Ari Þór Vilhjálmsson serves as Principal Second Violin of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Born 1981 in Reykjavík, Iceland, he worked with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra from 2006 – 2014 before moving to Helsinki. He has also appeared as guest concertmaster with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse.
A dedicated teacher, Ari taught at the Reykjavík College of Music, working with many of Iceland’s most talented young violinists. He continues to teach students in Iceland and Finland, and performs solo and chamber music regularly in both countries.
Growing up in the United States, Ari began playing the violin at the age of 5. He later completed degrees from the Reykjavík College of Music, University of Illinois and Northwestern University. His main teachers were Guðný Guðmundsdóttir, Rachel Barton Pine, Sibbi Bernharðsson, and Almita and Roland Vamos.