The Reykjanes Music School Concert Band (LúðrasveitTónlistarskóli Reykjanesbæjar) led by conductor Karen Sturlaugsson played at Mystic Valley on Monday morning.
The band was established in 1999, with the merging of two local towns and their school systems. The band is made up of the most advanced students in the school - the requirements to advance to this band are that the student must be at least in the 8th grade and have passed a comprehensive exam, similar to the Associate Board exams in England.
The band has travelled extensively through the years: their most recent foreign tour was to Florida in 2008 and Washington, D.C. before that. They have also travelled to France, Italy and Germany.
They also play many concerts in Iceland. The Reykjanesbaer Music School Concert Band is well known throughout their country for its outstanding performances.
The Reykjanes Music School is a music conservatory of 800 students located in Reykjanesbaer, Iceland (near the international airport) – a town of about 15,000 people. All instruments are taught in private lessons and emphasis is on participating in ensembles. During this school year (2011-2012), there are 3 wind bands, 1 jazz band, 3 string orchestras, 2 guitar ensembles and many smaller rock and jazz groups.
The band entertained the entire high school population with an hour long concert featuring a wide range of musical selections from Coldplay to the theme from the movie Superman. After the concert there was a brief question and answer session for the students and then the band members were off to their next performance.
