Kári Bæk was honored and awarded the Medal of Honor of the City of Torshavn.

It was a very special moment in the town hall yesterday, when Kári Bæk was honored and received the Medal of Honor of the City of Torshavn.

Many are left behind by Kári Bæk, and you should have a heartfelt thank you for your special and extra services. To the handover I sent greetings:

Good morning everyone,

We are gathered today to honor Kári Bæk with the Medal of Honor of the City of Torshavn.

The Gold Medal of the City of Torshavn will be awarded to a citizen who in his work in a special way has paved the way and been a good example for others. We in the municipality wish to honor citizens who enthusiastically take an extra step forward in society.

Music is a fundamental part of the Faroese culture and identity. We gather around the music and the song. A very important part of the musical life in Faroe Islands is maintained by choral singing, which is a regular feature of most Faroese festivals. Here you have a very important role, Kári. As a choirmaster you have conducted many choirs, and as chairman of both the Icelandic Choir Association and the Association of Faroese Composers you have taken a big step forward.

You have also made important contributions as a composer. Original Faroese material is invaluable to us as a nation, and you have adapted your many works – both for choir and instruments.

I understand from the song that your humble answer, when you received an invitation to the honor today, was: “I don’t think I’ve done anything special to deserve such an honor. You have – in abundance.

I would now like to read the letter of honour, which reads:

“Kári Bæk has been a pioneer in Faroese music for the past many years, and as a choirmaster, composer and arranger he has played a major role in the development of choral singing in Havn and in Faroe Islands as a whole.

He is especially known as a composer, and has written many acclaimed works for choir and instrumental music. Among these is “Askur og Embla – the First Day may be”, which in 2012 was nominated for the Nordic Council Music Prize.

He has also been a choirmaster for many years. Among the choirs he has conducted are Cantus Borealis, the Torshavn Chamber Choir and the Torshavn Men’s Choir. In addition, Kári has been a conductor at GHM.

He was chairman of the Choral Association of Iceland for 11 years and has organized and led many choir competitions and choir leadership courses around the country. Several times Kári has conducted the traditional Olavsøkan choir, which has been a regular feature of Olavsøkan since 1930.

For his closeness, diligence and groundbreaking contribution to the music life in Havn, Kári Bæk will be honored with the Gold Medal of the City of Torshavn.”