Loftvægi was premiered at the opening of Reykjavík Arts Festival in 2026.

Loftvægi is a large-scale outdoor musical work by composer Samúel Jón Samúelsson, created for Reykjavík’s four school wind bands and involving around 600 children and young musicians playing brass, woodwind and percussion.

The title Loftvægi is an old Icelandic word for air pressure, here referring to the equal value and importance of every musician within the collective.

The performance unfolded across the city, with the four school bands setting off from four different parts of Reykjavík. Playing as they moved through the streets, the groups approached Harpa from different directions before converging on the square in front of Reykjavík’s concert hall.

Bringing together music, movement and public space on an exceptional scale, Loftvægi drew on Reykjavík’s long tradition of school wind bands while transforming the city itself into part of the performance.

Composer & Artistic Direction: Samúel Jón Samúelsson
Artistic Direction: Lára Sóley Jóhannsdóttir and Valgerður Rúnarsdóttir
Choreography: Valgerður Rúnarsdóttir
Project Management: Valgerður Rúnarsdóttir

Conductors:
Snorri Heimisson — Skólahljómsveit Austurbæjar
Ingi Garðar Erlendsson — Skólahljómsveit Vestur- og Miðbæjar
Øyvind Lapin Larsen — Skólahljómsveit Grafarvogs
Anna Sigurbjörnsdóttir — Skólahljómsveit Árbæjar og Breiðholts