Veronique Vaka
Biography Veronique Vaka
Veronique Vaka
born in 1986, is an Icelandic-based Canadian cellist and composer. She studied classical cello performance at Vincent-d’Indy, and continued her studies in electro-acoustic composition at the University of Montreal. She completed a Master's degree in music composition from the Iceland University of the Arts under the guidance of Páll Ragnar Pálsson, Þuríður Jónsdóttir and Daníel Bjarnason. Veronique took a step towards a more abstract approach to her music when she started her research: From Landscape to Music Notation. The intention of her work is to create a poetic context between what she sees, hears and feels in the unspoiled nature, and combine it into a musical composition. Her composition style can be described as organic, with an emphasis on small details such as rhythmic, textural, and timbral elements.
Veronique Vaka has composed works for the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Sinfóníuhljómsveit Áhugamanna's Orchestra, Ensemble Paramirabo, Duo Harpverk, Ensemble Synaesthesis, Ensemble Adapter, Caput Ensemble, Siggi String Quartet, Ensemble Dasein, Nordic Affect and a Violin Concerto for Una Sveinbjarnardóttir. Her works have been performed during Myrkir Músíkdagar/ Dark Music Days (2018, 2019) and Sumartónleikar í Skálholti (2018). Among upcoming projects is the release by the label Sono Luminus of Lendh with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Daníel Bjarnason.
Veronique is a member of the Society of Icelandic Composers (Tónskáldafélag Íslands) and an Associate Composer with the Canadian Music Centre. Her works have been supported by the Artists’ Salary Fund (2019), RÚV/STEF Composers’ Fund (2018, 2019), YRKJA (2017) and the Canada Council for the Arts (2012-13).
Veronique Vaka is currently writing a Cello Concerto for Sæunn Thorsteinsdottir.
