Join sibling duo Skúli Thorsteinsson and ASF Fellow Sæunn Thorsteinsson for an evening celebrating their new album, Songs from Home, on Better Company Records. This concert brings Icelandic lullabies, folk melodies, and beloved tunes into a fresh light through understated arrangements for guitar and cello. Each piece reflects the music they grew up with, shaped by family memories, long winters, and the poetry of Iceland’s unique landscapes.
With Skúli’s grounded presence from Boston’s vibrant music scene and Sæunn’s expressive, Grammy-nominated playing, their interpretations feel unhurried and personal, almost like being welcomed into their living room. Expect a night shaped by nostalgia, easy warmth, and the quiet power of music rooted in home.
FROM THE PERFORMERS:
Songs from Home was born from a moment of both loss and connection. At our grandfather’s funeral, we, siblings Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir on cello and Skúli Thorsteinsson on guitar, came together to play music for our family. Although we had spent years in separate musical worlds, playing side by side awakened something unexpected.
We began exploring the songs we grew up with in Iceland, revisiting childhood memories and melodies passed down through generations. We called our parents for suggestions, unearthed football anthems and lullabies, and rediscovered tunes we had nearly forgotten.
The result is Songs from Home, a collection of ten pieces played simply, the way we would in our living room during the long winter months in Iceland. This album is both a tribute to where we come from and an invitation into our musical living room, where we meet in music and memory.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
SÆUNN THORSTEINSDÓTTIR
Hailed for her expressive sound and adventurous spirit, Icelandic cellist Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician in concerts around the world. A Grammy-nominated artist, she is deeply passionate about innovative collaborations and reimagining the cello’s role in classical and contemporary music. Sæunn is a former ASF Fellow and previously served on the faculty at the University of Washington and Cincinnati College-Conservatory.
SKULI THORSTEINSSON
Icelandic guitarist Skúli Thorsteinsson is known for his thoughtful musicianship and technical versatility. Based in Boston, he has performed across the US, Iceland, and extensively across the New England region, lending his quietly grounded approach to a range of musical genres, from funk and jazz to contemporary classical.