Icelandic Sounds

This program is co-sponsored by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon, a professional music fraternity.

Dr. Kristín Jónína Taylor is an Icelandic-American pianist, enthusiastically received for her performances of Nordic piano works, including the North American premiere of Jón Nordal’s Piano Concerto in 2003 and programs for the Ambassador of Iceland and President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir.  The recipient of two Fulbright scholarships for study in Iceland; she has performed and presented her research worldwide.  Dr. Taylor was the Grand Prize Winner of the Naftzger Young Artist Competition, a finalist in the Music Teacher’s National Association Young Chang Collegiate Competition; she has recorded for the Pólarfónía, Smekkleysa, Iceland Music Information Centre, and MarkMasters labels.

Kristín is Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and in 2022 the Nebraska Music Teachers Association designated her as Nebraska Teacher of the Year. A Steinway Artist, she was elected to the Steinway Teacher Hall of Fame in 2021.

Jim Reilly, the Music Director Emeritus at Mindekirken and is a tenor, pianist, organist, and composer, he has performed in twenty states, Holland, and Norway. Recently he presented his eightieth birthday recital at Mindekirken and the Minneapolis St. Paul Alliance Française, where he is a frequent guest. He has been researching the music of S. K. Hall (Steingrimur Kristjan Hall), born of Icelandic parents in Gimli, Manitoba in 1977, Hall was the first North American Icelander to receive a music degree, from Gustavus Adolphus, in 1899. First Lutheran Church of Winnipeg, where Hall was the organist from 1907 to 1935, has provided copies of some of Hall’s important songs, four of which Reilly will sing at this concert.