Peter Jónasson has been appointed to the position of dean of the department of music of the Iceland University of the Arts

Pétur completed a soloist degree in classical guitar playing from the Estudio de Arte Guitarrístico in Mexico City in 1980 and later attended his doctoral thesis (PhD) in Spain for several years. He completed a master's degree (MSc) with honors in the field of physical science research in music and performing arts (Performance Science) from the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London in 2015 and will defend his doctoral thesis (PhD) in September 2023 from the same school. His research materials are visual perception and memory processes, specifically the effect of different musical material on visual attention and working memory (in English: Attention and memory as a function of complexity: a study of musicians’ visual behavior). The project is carried out at the research centers Center for Performance Science, which is operated by RCM and Imperial College London, and his Icelandic research studies are carried out in Iceland.

Pétur has a successful career as a leading guitar soloist, has held hundreds of solo concerts in over 25 countries, made television and radio recordings and played on records and CDs. Numerous Icelandic and foreign composers have written works especially for him. His work as an instrumentalist spans a wide range, he played, for example, with pop bands alongside his studies and is now a member of the Riot Ensemble in London, which was awarded some of the prestigious Siemens Awards and the Icelandic Caput group, but both of these bands specialize in the performance of contemporary music. Pétur has been involved in music management in the theater and also composed his own music, including films related to his work as a researcher, documentaries and sound films. He was the director of the School Concert in Iceland 2004-2007, Myrkra Music Days 2010-2014, IMMERSION research in the field of the Norwegian Music Festival, Iceland and the director of the International Music Festival in Iceland, Iceland, Iceland in 201015, Iceland.

Pétur has received numerous awards for his work. In 1990, he was nominated for the Nordic Council's Music Award, the first Icelandic soloist, and also received an honorary grant from the Sonning Fund in Copenhagen. He was chosen to play for Andrés Segovia in a historic course at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and subsequently received a grant to study from the Spanish state. Then he played as a finalist in the international Andrés Segovia guitar competition in Granada. He was a three-time recipient of the Royal College of Music Award in the years 2017-2019. Pétur has received artist salaries many times, but among recent grants is an allocation from the Music Fund for upcoming concerts with solo works for electric guitar by female composers.

Pétur has considerable experience in research work in the field of art and science, including at the V&A Research Institute (VARI), the Imperial College Center for Engagement and Simulation Science, the Icelandic Vision Lab, the Royal Danish Academy of Music Distance Learning Studio, and the Center for Performance Science. He has written book chapters and scientific articles about his research that have appeared at Oxford University Press, Routledge, University College Press and Psychology of Music. He has also been a guest speaker at a number of universities including the Royal College of Music, Imperial College and University College in London. Pétur has also lectured and workshops at a number of international conferences and taught instrumental masterclusters around the world.

We warmly welcome Pétur to the University of the Arts and look forward to the collaboration.

Photographer: Francisco Javier Jáuregui Narváez