This week I’ve been in Egilsstadir, the main town serving East Iceland. I grew to really love this town, actually. I like big country and the vistas were wide here, with some great, snow-capped peaks all around, not to mention the huge Lagarfljot (a big loch!) with some very vocal greylag geese!
My main reason for being based here was to do a masterclass with Charles Ross’ pupils at the music school. We did it in a different format to Torshavn. Rather than coaching individually, everyone was in the same room this time, giving the young people the chance to perform in front of their peers as well as me. It also meant we could work on points of technique together – much more fun!
As in Torshavn, I also ended up doing a bit of side-by-side work in orchestra, too, something I especially enjoy doing. It’s so nice when the pupils ask how long I’m around because they enjoyed having me play with them.
I was lucky enough to avoid another storm by staying with Charles and his family out at Faskrudsfjordr, an isolated east fjord community. It’s great being lashed by the elements – when you’re not in a tent!!! Time flew by walking the dogs and visiting the horses with Charles and his daughter, talking music and composing with Charles and language and translation with his wife.
Tomorrow I’m taking the bus to Myvatn for some volcanic sightseeing, then it’s back to Reykjavik and home!