Jón Leifs

Jón Leifs (May 1, 1899 – July 30, 1968) Jón was born in Sólheimar. He left Iceland in 1916 to study in Germany at the Leipzig Conservatory. He graduated in 1921 having studied piano, and then devoted his time to conducting and composing. He became successful as a conductor, and also as a writer. He married pianist Annie Riethof. They had two daughters, Snót and Líf, and lived in Wernigerode and subsequently in Baden-Baden. Because his wife was Jewish, his family was harassed by the Nazis.