Kolbeinn Bjarnason was born in Reykjavík, Iceland in 1958. He studied philosophy and literature at The Icelandic University and flute at Reykjavík College of Music. He continued his studies with Austrian flute player Manuela Wiesler and several other internationally leading flutists.
He has performed as soloist in most Icelandic music festivals and has appeared as soloist with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra - under Osmo Vänska. He has performed in various European countries, USA, Mexico and Japan.
Bjarnason has given lectures/demonstrations in different universities and music institutions in Japan, Europe and America, including Juilliard School in New York, The Royal Danish Music Academy and Takefu festival in Japan
Bjarnason has worked with numerous Icelandic composers, like Atli Heimir Sveinsson, Hafliði Hallgrímsson, Leifur Thorarinsson and Thorsteinn Hauksson who have dedicated their works to him. He has worked with such disparate composers abroad as Toshio Hosokawa, Hiroyuki Itoh, Noriko Miura, Brian Ferneyhough, Doina and Diana Rotaru, Hans-Henrik Nordström and Simon Mawhinney to name but a few.
His recordings of the complete flute music of Ferneyhough have received international acclaim.
Kolbeinn Bjarnason started composing in 2009. He is currently studying composition at the Icelandic Academy of Arts. (B.M in 2010 - M.M in 2012)