Orchestras and Music in Iceland

there are loads of amateur musical organizations in Iceland. It's one of the hobbies Icelanders do best.

there is of course a symphony orchestra in Reykjavík with professional musicians, then there are organizations like this fairly large amateur orchestra:
http://www.ahugasinfonia.is/

there's this one for the north which I think is partly amateur musicians, from all over the northern regions (I performed with them at Mývatn last year)

http://sinfonianord.com/

there's also the Reykjavík Brass Band which doesn't have much of a website but is a fairly large group:

http://www.lr.is/wiki/Fors%C3%AD%C3%B0a

Beyond this there are plenty of smaller ensembles and just by talking to any church musical director you can probably also perform in Sunday services if that's your thing. The universities also most likely have ensembles as well.

Most of these organizations are not of the caliber to support a  work visa and residence permit, however. I'm assuming that since you're posting from Houston you're an American, which means you'll need a bit of paperwork in order to live here legally.

But me liking bass clarinet and low reeds will fit well with their musical culture? It would be neat to take it to gatherings and have impromptu playing going on. In America, it's just not done, and I wish it did happen more.

hi ndrewoods.. I'm not sure where your comment comes from after I've just listed a whole bunch of orchestras! There is a lot of pop and folk here, certainly, but there's also plenty of music in a more classical orchestral vein as well. If someone comes with an instrument and a will to play a certain kind of music here, I'm sure they'll have no trouble making it happen. I've seen more DIY projects take off here than anywhere else, and not just at some kind of amateur level, but with good exposure and in collaboration with some pretty amazing and well-known musicians.