Lögberg-Heimskringla - 28.07.2000, Page 14

14 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Friday 28 July 2000
Festival Section
Ktisíc
Toast to Canada—Kári Stefánsson
Soloist Sigrún
Hjálmtýsdóttir (Diddú)
The soprano Sigrún
Hjálmtýsdóttir was born and
raised in Reykjavík. She studied
at the Guildhall School of Music and
Drama in London from 1979 to 1984,
graduating with the AGSM diploma,
and completed postgraduate studies
there in 1985. In 1987-88 she took pri-
vate lessons in Italy and since then has
concentrated on the operatic repertoire.
Her operatic debut was with the
Icelandic Opera in the role of Olympia
in Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann in the
National Theatre. Other roles she has
sung include Susanna in The Marriage
of Figaro, the soprano part in Orff’s
Carmina Burana, Papagena and the
Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute,
Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor,
Violetta in La Traviata, and Adina in
L’elisir d’amore (all with the Icelandic
Opera), and Gilda in Rigoletto with the
Gothenburg Opera. She has also sung
with the Icelandic Symphny Orchestra
and appeared with orchestras and on the
recital platform in the Nordic countries,
the Baltic States, Britain, Italy, the
USA, Japan, and elsewhere.
Sigrún Hjálmtýsdóttir has received
many awards for her singing, including
the Principal’s Prize at the Guildhall
School of Music and Drama in 1985
and the Internazionale Concorso
Biennale F. Mecenati in Italy in 1988.
She was awarded the Knight’s Cross of
the Icelandic Order of the Falcon in
1995, and was made a Grand Mistress
of the Finnish Order of the Lion in
1997.
She has been a soloist with The
Reykjavík Male Voice Choir on many
occasions in Iceland and made CD
recordings with them.
Accompanist Anna
Guðný Guðmundsdóttir
Anna Guðný Guðmundsdóttir,
pianist, was bom in Reykjavík.
She graduated from the Music
Conservatory in Reykjavík and contin-
ued her postgraduate studies at the
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
in London, majoring in chamber music
and accompaniment of vocalists. For
the last sixteen years she has worked in
Iceland and has performed as a soloist
with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra
in piano concertos by Mozart,
Beethoven. and Poulenc.
Anna Guðný has given a vast num-
ber of chamber concerts in Iceland and
abroad, both as a soloist and a member
of chamber orchestras. She has made
several recordings throughout the years
as well. Presently, she is a teacher at the
Music Conservatory in Reykjavík and a
freelance pianist with the Icelandic
Symphony Orchestra.
Anna Guðný has been an accompa-
nist with the Male Choir of Reykjavík
on a regular basis for the last ten years
and made CD recordings with them.
Sigrún (Diddú) and Anna Guðný
have been working together since their
college years in London. They have
travelled widely, giving concerts both at
home and abroad.
ári Stefáns-
uson, M.D.,
Dr. Med., is presi-
dent and CEO of
deCode Genetics
in Reykjavík,
Iceland. He was
previously
Professor of
Neurology,
Pathology (Neuropathology), and
Neuroscience at Harvard Medical
School, and Chief of the Division of
Neuropathology at Beth Israel Hospital
in Boston. Stefansson received both an
M.D. and Dr. Med. from the SchooJ of
Medicine at the University of Iceland.
He trained in neurology and neu-
ropathology at the University of
Chicago where he joined the faculty in
1983; when he left the University in
1993 to join the faculty at Harvard, he
was Professor of Neurology and
Pathology (Neuropathology) and a
member of the Committees on
Immunology and Neurobiology.
Toast to Iceland—Eric Stefanson
Eric Stefanson is Chief Operating
Officer for Loring Ward Investment
Counsel. Loring Ward is a subsidiary of
the Assante Corporation, a leading
provider of integrated wealth and life
management services. Eric is also the
current Member of the Legislative
Assembly of Manitoba for Kirkfield
Park constituency.
Eric Stefanson was the Minister of
Health and Deputy Premier, from
February 1999 to October 1999. In
1997, he was given the responsibilities
of Minister responsible for Sport,
Minister charged with the administra-
tion of the Boxing Commission Act,
and the Fitness and Amateur Sport Act.
Eric Stefanson was Minister of
Finance, Minister charged with the
administration of the Crown
Corporations Public Review and
Accountability Act, and Chair of
Treasury Board from September 1993
to February 1999. He was first elected
to the Manitoba Legislature in
September 1990. From February 1999
to September 1993, he was Minister of
Industry, Trade and Tourism and
Minister responsible for Sport.
From 1982 to 1989, he was a
Winnipeg city councillor and served as
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Eric was born and raised in Gimli,
Manitoba, moving to Winnipeg in
1968. He received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Manitoba
in 1971 and graduated from chartered
accountancy in 1975. From 1978 to
1990 Eric was a partner in Stefanson
and Lee, a local chartered accountancy
firm.
Eric is the son of the late Eric and
Sigrun Stefanson. He and his wife
Myrna, have a daughter Kristen and a
son Eric.
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