Kyrjukórinn í Þorlákshöfn

Kyrjukór is a women’s choir based in Þorlákshöfn, Iceland. It was established in the autumn of 1998, and its first conductor was Anna Sigurbjörnsdóttir. Their first concert was held for family and friends in April, 1999. Later that year, Kristín Sigfúsdóttir was appointed conductor and the choir performed its first public concert to a full house in Þorlákshöfn Church in May, 2000. Ever since then, the choir has maintained a regular program of Christmas and Spring concerts, either on its own or in cooperation with other musical groups, as well as performing at various functions in the town and the surrounding area. The choir is made up of women from Þorlákshöfn and the local district who enjoy singing. Membership of the choir has varied between 15 and 35 since the choir was formed. Under the conductorship of Gróa Hreinsdóttir, the choir performed for the first time abroad when taking part in the Nordic-Baltic Choir Festival in Tartu, Estonia in August of 2008. The choir´s repertoire is very varied, ranging from Icelandic folk songs to popular international music, the selection of which is naturally based on the choir's own enjoyment.

The conductor of the choir is Sigurbjörg Hv. Magnúsdóttir. She graduated from Boston University under the guidance of Richard Cassily in 1992 and in the same year she obtained her Master's Degree in vocal performance from the same university. She has attended private lessons in Stockholm in 1993 and 1994 and she has finished her final grade in singing from the Reykjavík Academy of Singing and Vocal Art, under the guidance of Dóra Reyndal in 1997. She has attend many courses with famous musicians such as: Hannelore Kuhse, Oren Brown, Svanhvít Egilsdóttir, Carlo Bergonzi, Lorren Nubar…

Ölfus Municipality covers a total area of 750 km2 and has a population of approximately 2,000 people. The environment is beautiful with its lava fields, black sand beaches, magnificent mountain view, rich bird life and cliffs. Most inhabitants - or approximately 1500 - live in the fishing village, Þorlákshöfn, named after St. Þorlákur, Bishop of Skálholt (1133–1193). The town is important as a port because it has the only viable harbor on Iceland’s southern coast. Today the industrial foundations in Þorlákshöfn are ship-outfitting, fish processing factories, business, and service industries while the most important industries in rural Ölfus are agriculture, horse breading and tourist services. Leisure opportunities are excellent in Ölfus, with hiking and riding paths, the geothermal energy exhibition at mountain Hengill and in Þorlákshöfn, an eighteen hole golf course, football, and a new modern, fully-equipped sports facility with swimming pool, hot baths, steam bath, water slide, and spa.