Reykjavík’s Resident of the Year 2025

Ritstjórn
Mayor Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir with Ingi Garðar Erlendsson, Reykjavík’s Resident of the Year, at the Elliðaár river this morning.
Mayor Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir with Ingi Garðar Erlendsson, Reykjavík’s Resident of the Year, at the Elliðaár river this morning.

Ingi Garðar Erlendsson, director of the Vesturbær and Miðbær school band, has been named Reykjavík’s Resident of the Year 2025. Mayor Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir announced the selection on the banks of the Elliðaár river this morning, marking the 15th year Reykjavík has recognized a Resident of the Year.

Reykjavík first honored a Resident of the Year in 2011. The award honors and thanks individuals who set an outstanding example through their actions and contributions to the community.

Dedicated to music education and youth development

Ingi Garðar has directed the Vesturbær and Miðbær school band since 2019. Ingi Garðar is a trombonist and music teacher with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in composition, as well as a diploma in acoustics. He composes original works and arranges music for orchestras.

Nominations for Reykjavík’s Resident of the Year were requested in early May, and in mid-June the committee reviewed nominations and chose Ingi Garðar for the honor. Nominations highlighted his exceptional work and described him as a true role model for both the children and everyone involved in the band. Nominations also praised Ingi Garðar for his empathetic approach to teaching and for creating an environment where children feel valued and thrive as musicians.

Ingi Garðar Erlendsson fishing with Stefán Karl Segatta, fishing guide.
Ingi Garðar Erlendsson, Reykvíkingur ársins ásamt Stefáni Karli Segatta veiðileiðsögumanni við veiðar í Elliðánum í morgun.

Under Ingi Garðar’s leadership, students have enjoyed a wide range of performance opportunities. They performed on stage at Reykjavík City Theater in the play “Fía Sól gefst aldrei upp” (Fía Sól Never Gives Up), and in the dance piece “Hringir Orfeausar og annað slúður” (Orpheus’ Rings and Other Gossip) by Erna Ómarsdóttir. They also composed and performed a musical work for the opening of the Dark Music Days festival, and joined the band Sigur Rós at Laugardalshöll Arena. These are just a few of the many highlights.

Ingi Garðar, music director, conducting the Vesturbær and Miðbær school band at a concert in Reykjavík City Hall.
Ingi Garðar í essinu sínu að stýra Skólahljómsveit Vesturbæjar og Miðbæjar á tónleikum í Ráðhúsi Reykjavíkur.

In late May, a concert was held at Háskólabíó where the Vesturbær and Miðbær school band under Ingi Garðar's direction, Benni Hemm Hemm and Kórinn joined forces to celebrate 20 years since the release of Benni's first album. That album, simply titled “Benni Hemm Hemm,“ contained 12 songs and was released in 2005. The album was performed in its entirety to a full house at the concert in Háskólabíó.

Musician Benni Hemm Hemm says that what Ingi Garðar Erlendsson is doing with the Vesturbær and Miðbær school band is a monumental achievement that will become legendary over time. “He gave himself just one month to rehearse the entire first Benni Hemm Hemm album. That’s an almost impossible task for a school band. He has trained these kids by playing constantly throughout the city: with orchestras, on stages, at nursing homes and preschools, spring festivals and so forth. The result is that this orchestra can take on songs in difficult genres, with constant time signature changes and other musical complexities, and just play them straight through on the first rehearsal. And they can't just play through the songs, they manage to nail the feel and play incredibly well. These young musicians are truly impressive. And they have an extraordinary director leading them,“ says Benni Hemm Hemm.

Fishing conditions were ideal, with cloudy skies and light drizzle.
Veður til veiði var hið ákjósanlegasta, skýjað og smá úði.

The recipient was pleased to receive the recognition. “The nomination came as a great surprise to me, and it's wonderful to receive recognition for my work - this will certainly encourage me to continue. But this is also deeply rewarding work, and I want to thank the wonderful kids in the school band - they deserve tremendous credit for this recognition, along with my colleagues, all the instrument teachers, and especially Svanhildur Lóa Bergsveinsdóttir, who works alongside me in the orchestra and is my closest collaborator, says Ingi Garðar.

Ingi Garðar then tried his hand at salmon fishing in the Elliðaár river at an outing hosted by the mayor of Reykjavík and the Reykjavík Angling Club, which has managed the river for 85 years. Mayor Heiða Björg spoke with Ingi Garðar about the school band and the orchestra's activities. By around 11am, Ingi Garðar hadn’t caught a fish. But who knows? He might get lucky later today.

We congratulate Ingi Garðar on his recognition!