EPTA ICELAND.

Iceland was the first country to join EPTA, on 19th February 1979. This came about through the actions of pianist Halldór Haraldsson, the first president of EPTA Iceland, who heard of the newly established association and made contact with Carola Grindea through Inga Ásta Hafstein, a former student.

Today EPTA Iceland consists of 125 members and is still growing.

The main aims of EPTA Iceland are to organise meetings for the presentation of new teaching materials and new schools of thought in music teaching, to hold Master Classes, to be a forum for discussions on teaching methods, etc. EPTA Iceland also regularly publishes a newsletter that lists key upcoming piano-related events in Iceland and abroad.

The EPTA Piano Competition, first held in 2000, is the main event organised by EPTA Iceland.  This competition, held every three years, has proved very important and encouraging for Icelandic piano students and teachers.  The jury of five pianists has always been led by a well known foreign pianist/teacher, among them Prof. Malcolm Troup, Prof. Peter Toperczer, Prof. Diane Andersen and Nelita True.

Many members of EPTA Iceland have through the years attended the UK Conferences and the annual EPTA international conferences, where they have presented Icelandic piano music, presented new piano music for teaching or given recitals. At these meetings Icelandic EPTA members have come into contact with many fine piano teachers from other countries, some of whom have come to Iceland to give Master Classes. Carola Grindea visited Iceland twice.

EPTA Iceland is proud to be the host of the 38th International EPTA Conference held in Reykjavík 22nd-25th September 2016.