First Student Completes Advanced Piano Exam at Icelandic Music School

Sóley Sif Jónsdóttir has broken new ground at the Austur-Húnvetninga Music School in Iceland, becoming its first-ever student to complete advanced piano studies in its 55-year history. The 19-year-old recent high school graduate achieved this milestone on election day.

Jónsdóttir hails from a prominent musical family. Her mother, Hugrún Sif Hallgrímsdóttir, is the school's director, a church organist, and a singer. Her father, Jón Ólafur Sigurjónsson, is a bassist and singer in the band "Steinliggur," with a career spanning various musical endeavors. Her 15-year-old brother, Ísak, is also pursuing a musical path, learning the bass.

Sóley began her piano lessons at age five with her mother and later studied with teacher Eyþór Franzsyn Wechner. During her time at Akureyri Junior College, she continued her piano studies at the Akureyri Music School under pianist Þórarinn Stefánsson. Her musical journey also includes playing drums and keyboard in the all-girl band "Skandall," which won a junior college competition in 2025, and performing keyboard in school theater productions.

To mark her achievement, Jónsdóttir held a concert at the local church, which drew a large audience. She performed her program with confidence, earning significant applause. The concert featured a special moment where her mother joined her at the piano, accompanying her on a rendition of Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love." Her father also joined in on bass for the performance, which reportedly moved many attendees to tears.

With her extensive talent and experience, Sóley Sif Jónsdóttir is poised to make a significant mark on the music scene in the coming years.

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I was wearing a kebaya at the time.