The Reykjavik City Library Christmas Song Competition 2024
In 2022, the City Library hosted a Christmas Song Competition for the very first time with great success. It was decided to make the Reykjavík City Library Christmas Song Competition an annual event, open to everyone, and now it is back for the third time.
The entries need to be original unreleased songs, in digital format. The songs must be in Icelandic but can be with or without lyrics. The preferred song length is around three minutes.
We encourage participants to book an appointment in our fully equipped studio here, but please note that it is NOT necessary to record in our studio in order to participate.
Appointments at the studio are available for booking on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays between 3-5 pm and 5-7 pm. Our trusty sound engineer, Haraldur Ernir, will be there to assist you. You can also book the studio for rehearsals and/or jamming on Thursdays and Fridays here between 3-6 pm.
Please send in your song by 11:59 pm, Sunday December 1st, using the registration form below
Jury
A jury will evaluate the songs and select the best one.
The jury consists of three companions of the library. Firstly, we have Andrés Þór Þorvarðarson who works as a janitor at the City Library in Grófin. He completed his BA in Music Composition from the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2019 and has been in bands such as Milkhouse and played with the musician K.óla. He knows nothing better than a great song.
Then there is Sigríður Stephensen, a specialist at the City Library in Spöngin but she is a real music enthusiast. She studied piano in her youth and has been in the Hamrahlid Choir and the Motet Choir. For years she hosted a radio show on RÚV (e. Iceland’s National Public Service Broadcaster) with emphasis on cultural coverage and music i.e. world music, contemporary music and classical music.
Last but not least is Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir, chairwoman of the jury. Hildur is a musician from Reykjavík born in 1988. She has made a name for herself as a songwriter and producer. Her musical career began in the indie band Rökkurró in 2006 as a singer, cellist and songwriter, but with the band she released three LPs and went on numerous concert tours. In 2015, she turned to pop music when she wrote and performed the song Fjaðrir in the Söngvakeppni sjónvarpsins (e. Television Singing Contest). In 2016, she officially started the solo project under her own name and released the song I'll Walk With You, which was nominated for the Icelandic Music Awards as pop song of the year 2017, along with being nominated as newcomer of the year. In the same year, she had the song Bammbaramm in the finals of Söngvakeppni sjónvarpsins. She has released two EP albums and will release her first LP, Afturábak, at the end of the year. Hildur has worked extensively as a songwriter abroad and in Iceland, teaches songwriting and sits on the board of STEF and FTT.
The award ceremony will take place on Monday, December 9th at 4 pm in Úlfarsárdalur.
Take part and let your Christmas light shine bright!
The award ceremony - Event on website.
The award ceremony - Event on Facebook.
Further information at jolalag@borgarbokasafn.is