معرفی
Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir is an Affiliate Assistant Professor at the University of Washington's DXARTS program within the College of Arts & Sciences, specializing in cello and chamber music. She holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from SUNY Stony Brook, a Master of Music from The Juilliard School, and a Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Her research interests revolve around contemporary music performance, collaborations with living composers, and experimental interdisciplinary projects. Notable recordings include Vernacular (Sono Luminus, 2019), featuring Icelandic solo cello works. She has premiered works such as Páll Ragnar Pálsson’s Quake and Daníel Bjarnason’s Bow to String, showcasing her commitment to modern classical innovation.
Key awards include victories in the Naumburg Competition and the Antonio Janigro Competition. As an educator, she emphasizes creative exploration and intuitive performance techniques. She is a founding member of Decoda (Carnegie Hall’s affiliate ensemble) and co-leads the Seattle-based group Frequency, blending classical traditions with experimental approaches.
Her performances span prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, Elbphilharmonie, and Barbican Centre, with collaborations featuring Itzhak Perlman and the Emerson Quartet. She actively engages in global festivals, including Marlboro and Santa Fe, prioritizing spontaneous compositional dialogue and soul-resonant artistic connections.
