Sæumm Þorsteinsdóttir is a renowned Icelandic classical music artist who has made a significant impact on the international music scene. Born on May 22, 1984, in Reykjavik, Iceland, Sæumm grew up in a family of musicians. Her father, Þorsteinn Hannesson, is a well-known Icelandic composer, and her mother, Sigrún Hjálmtýsdóttir, is a pianist. Sæumm's parents recognized her musical talent at an early age and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Sæumm began her musical education at the age of six, studying the piano with her mother. She later switched to the cello, which became her primary instrument. Sæumm attended the Reykjavik College of Music, where she studied with renowned cellist Sævar Árnason. She continued her studies at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin, Germany, where she studied with cellist David Geringas. Sæumm's talent as a cellist quickly became apparent, and she began to receive recognition for her performances. In 2004, she won first prize in the Icelandic National Music Competition, and in 2005, she won the prestigious Young Musicians Award in Iceland. These awards helped to launch her career as a professional cellist. Sæumm has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. She has also collaborated with some of the most renowned conductors, such as Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim, and Valery Gergiev. One of Sæumm's most significant performances was her debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in 2008. She performed the cello concerto by Edward Elgar, which was met with critical acclaim. The Berliner Zeitung praised her performance, saying, "Sæumm Þorsteinsdóttir's cello playing was a revelation. She brought a depth of emotion to the music that was truly moving." Sæumm has also performed at many of the world's most prestigious music festivals, including the Salzburg Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the BBC Proms. In 2012, she was invited to perform at the Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm, Sweden, where she played the cello concerto by Dmitri Shostakovich. In addition to her performances as a soloist, Sæumm is also an accomplished chamber musician. She has performed with some of the world's leading chamber ensembles, including the Emerson String Quartet and the Guarneri Quartet. She is a founding member of the Reykjavik Trio, which has received critical acclaim for its performances of contemporary Icelandic music. Sæumm's recordings have also received critical acclaim. Her recording of the cello concertos by Shostakovich and Prokofiev with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra was named "Recording of the Month" by Gramophone magazine in 2010. Her recording of the complete works for cello and piano by Icelandic composer Jón Leifs was also highly praised. Sæumm has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to classical music. In 2011, she was awarded the Icelandic Music Prize for her recording of the cello concertos by Shostakovich and Prokofiev. In 2014, she was awarded the Order of the Falcon, one of Iceland's highest honors, for her contributions to Icelandic culture. Sæumm is also a dedicated teacher and has taught masterclasses at many of the world's leading music schools, including the Juilliard School in New York and the Royal Academy of Music in London. She is currently a professor of cello at the Iceland Academy of the Arts.

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