Finland’s first professor of musical theatre is J. Martina Roos
The newly established musical theatre professorship will boost Finnish education in the field of musical theatre. The post is made possible by funding from the Waldemar von Frenckell Foundation for five years.
J. Martina Roos, lecturer in stage skills for singers, has been selected as professor of musical theatre at Uniarts Helsinki. The post is unique by Finnish standards, as this is the first-ever professorship dedicated to the field of musical theatre.
The aim behind establishing the professorship is to help relieve the shortage of experts in the field and to diversify the competence of musical theatre professionals.
“The professorship will promote the development and renewal of Finnish musical theatre, which has been our goal for a long time now. There is a shortage of professional musical theatre performers and creators in Finland, so offering education in the field is a way to meet these needs,” says Rector of Uniarts Helsinki Kaarlo Hildén.
The five-year professorship in musical theatre is administratively based at Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy. The new professorship is made possible by funding from the Waldemar von Frenckell Foundation for five years.
J. Martina Roos is a versatile artist who has worked as an actor, singer, director and teacher. Roos secured the post thanks to her broad experience and readiness to develop musical theatre as a field of art, in particular.
“Roos has a very diverse experience base in musical theatre and musicals. She also has extensive professional networks both in Finland and abroad as well as a strong pedagogical vision, which makes her the right person to lead a field of education that continues to evolve,” Dean of the Theatre Academy Otso Huopaniemi explains the professor choice.
J. Martina Roos is excited to take on the post and describes it as “an incredibly captivating challenge”.
“Musical theatre as an art form requires in-depth mastery of various skills. Being versatile and experimental is a must for acquiring these skills, as is preserving uncompromising professionalism in teaching. When experience is combined with artistic passion, we can together do things of which we couldn’t even dream” Roos says.
Possibility of launching a master’s programme is under review
Uniarts Helsinki is currently running a project with support from the Pacius Fund to explore the possibility of starting a joint master’s programme in musical theatre between the Sibelius Academy and the Theatre Academy. The review project is entering its final stretch, and the decision on whether the master’s programme will be established will be made by the end of 2024.
One of the duties of the professor of musical theatre will be to take part in the planning and implementation of the master’s programme, if it ends up being established.
So far, musical theatre studies have been offered as a popular minor study module, which has attracted students from both the Sibelius Academy and the Theatre Academy.
J. Martina Roos was appointed to the post by the rector of Uniarts Helsinki based on the proposal of the dean of the Theatre Academy. Roos will take on the new post after previously serving as lecturer in the Department of Vocal Arts at Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy and will take up her post as soon as possible.