VAKA, Veronique

Veronique Vaka, born in 1986, is a composer based in Iceland. She studied classical cello performance at Vincent-d’Indy, electroacoustic composition at the University of Montreal and completed a Master's degree in music composition from the Iceland University of the Arts.

Veronique's works are rooted in the geology and topography of Iceland. From the inner core of the Earth to its outer shapes, she explores the narrative of landscapes. Her orchestral piece Lendh, re-imagining the geothermal region of Krýsuvík, was internationally praised by critics and described as "operating on a geologic scale, with tectonic bass textures" by The New York Times and "a marvel" by British music magazine Gramophone. Lendh was nominated for the Icelandic Music Awards and the Nordic Council Music Prize. In 2020, she began a Glacier Series; a compilation of works with the transformation of glacial landscapes as groundwork, to create awareness of climate change.