Program: Sibelius Academy & Royal College of Music
Helsinki Festival Closing Concert: Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchetra and Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo, conductor
Chief Conductor of BBC Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Laureate of Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Honorary Conductor of Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, a guest conductor at the highest international level and a prolific recording artist, Sakari Oramo’s performances combine crystalline structural cohesion with authority, elegance and passion. Oramo is the Professor of Orchestra Education and Conducting Studies at the University of the Arts Helsinki, Sibelius Academy.
The 2023/24 season Oramo debuted with Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and returned to Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra amidst his ongoing collaborations with BBC Symphony Orchestra. Notable engagements from previous seasons include those with Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Symphoniker, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Staatskapelle Dresden, Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.
Throughout his career, Oramo has held numerous prestigious positions; Music Director of City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 1998-2008, Chief Conductor of Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 2003-2012, Principal Conductor of West Coast Kokkola Opera from 2004-2018, and Chief Conductor of Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra from 2008-2021. An accomplished violinist, Oramo was originally concertmaster of Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Anu Komsi, soprano
Known for her “technical daring” (The Times) and “captivating crystalline quality” (Bachtrack), Anu Komsi is one of the world’s foremost singers. A regular and iconic collaborator with myriad contemporary composers, Komsi’s performances often serve as the blueprint for future productions, and she continues to bring fresh and affecting interpretations to traditional roles and concert repertoire. Throughout her eminent career, she has worked with leading conductors including Sir Roger Norrington, Sakari Oramo, Andris Nelsons, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Alan Gilbert, Franz Welser-Möst, Peter Eötvös, George Benjamin, François-Xavier Roth, Martyn Brabbins, Dalia Stasevska, Nicholas Collon, Hannu Lintu, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Anna-Maria Helsing, Tarmo Peltokoski, and distinguished directors such as Pierre Audi, Barrie Kosky, Lydia Steier, Simon Stone, Achim Freyer, Karin Beier, Christoph Loy, Juho Kuosmanen and Leea Klemola.
In the 2023/24 season, Komsi performed alongside Sakari Oramo with the likes of BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and appeared at Dvořák Prague Festival and Kissinger Sommer. Ever-dedicated to contemporary music, she sings local and world premieres of works by Kaija Saariaho, George Benjamin, Sebastian Hilli, Lara Poe, as well as continuing to perform Ellington’s Sacred Concert, Bach’s oratorios, Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder, Mahler’s symphonies and Sibelius’ songs.
Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra
The Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra has been the backbone of Finnish orchestral training since 1916. In its spectacular productions, the Academy’s students are given the opportunity to showcase their skills in a full orchestra, alongside world-renowned professionals such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Okko Kamu, John Storgårds, Osmo Vänskä, Sakari Oramo, Mikko Franck, Eva Ollikainen, Hannu Lintu ja Susanna Mälkki.
The orchestra’s home is the Musiikkitalo (Helsinki Music Centre) concert hall. It also regularly visits other venues both in Finland and abroad. We work with the world’s leading music universities to prepare students for an increasingly international and demanding working life. In our projects, students get to work with top professionals and network under the guidance of, for example, composers, conductors, musicians and agents in educational institutions around the world. Sakari Oramo, Professor of Orchestra Education, is responsible for the educational content of the orchestra. He also conducts the orchestra regularly. Currently he is the Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
This concert project is supported by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.
Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra
The Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra performs with conductors and musicians of the highest international stature and is frequently invited to appear at prestigious venues across London and beyond. Past and forthcoming conductors include Sakari Oramo, Sir Antonio Pappano, Thomas Zehetmair, Ryan Bancroft, Vasily Petrenko, Jessica Cottis and Rafael Payare. Performances are given after intensive rehearsals and many of its concerts are broadcast live and on demand to an international audience online. The members of the RCM Symphony Orchestra represent some of the world’s most promising young instrumentalists, who have chosen to study at the RCM for its blend of excellent teaching, extensive performance opportunities and close connections with the orchestral profession. In addition to the many professors who are active professional instrumentalists, the RCM participates in side-by-side and other experience schemes with all the major professional orchestras in London.
Founded in 1882, the Royal College of Music moved to its present site on Prince Consort Road, opposite the Royal Albert Hall, in 1894, and has been recognised as the leading conservatoire in the world for Performing Arts in the QS rankings for the past three years. In addition to the vocational training it provides for its 1,000 full-time students, it also engages with a wider and diverse community of children and adults through a dedicated range of creative activities delivered by RCM Sparks’ education and participation projects, RCM Junior Department programme and the Creative Careers Centre.
Helsinki Chamber Choir
The Helsinki Chamber Choir was founded in 1962 as the Finnish Radio Chamber Choir and assumed its current name in 2005. Its wide-ranging repertoire includes music from the Renaissance to the present day and it is particularly highly regarded for its work with new music. The choir appears frequently at festivals in Finland and abroad and collaborates with symphony orchestras, period-instrument ensembles and contemporary music groups. It has made numerous award-winning recordings, receiving a Grammy and an Emma, and its concerts are regularly broadcast on radio and television, including productions for the ARTE channel and the European Broadcasting Union. Recent touring has taken the Helsinki Chamber Choir to the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and around Scandinavia.
Orchestra
First violin
Emmanuel Webb, leader
Lotus Amin Tinat, leader
Jokubas Svambaris
Sofia Gómez Alberto
Viviane Plekhotkine
Lauri Lodders
Zurabi Gorgiashvili
Marsha Ford
Esther Zaglia
Petar Vladimirov
Serguei González-Pavlova
Natasha Sutanto
Daniela Guillén García
Ruben Goesch
Heini Pitkänen
Lucy Ruuskanen
Second violin
Lily Harwood*
Sanni Kangas*
Ella Griinari
Eliza Nagle
Isabella Todes
Liina Ristolainen
Léna Marie-puig
Mirjam Bartol
Katie Mazur
Sofia Vinkel
Hanna-Maria Tikka
Isabella Azima
Helena Thomas
Iida-Maria Hanhikoski
Viola
Arttu Nummela*
Aisha Goodman*
Joe Berry
Ingrid Odé
Hanna Semper
Anthony Ip
Laura Young
Tamar Gvazava
Grettel Eerik
Mitzi Marley Clarke
Rosie Rowe
Camille Briottet
Cello
Iiris Piri*
Clélia Le Bret*
Emily Henderson
Kaisa Suninen
Oona Koivukangas
Rasmus Andersen
Iza Stefanska
Alli Mankkinen
Swann Leclere
Meg Allen
Double bass
Isabel García González*
Eero-Kalle Bergman*
Joanna Hilve
Lydie Horsford
Davide Scafarto
Martti Genevet
Emily McDougall
Ben Fosker
Flute
Marie Sato*
Issy Haley-Porteous*
Anna Rogers
Cliodhna Scott
Piccolo
Issy Haley-Porteous*
Cliodhna Scott
Oboe
Kara Battley*
Ella York*
Ross Williams
Carlos Yiu Erdocia
Bassoboe
Ross Williams
Cor Anglais
Carlos Yiu Erdocia
Clarinet
Lucia Porcedda*
Tal Gottdiner*
Emily Crook
Sonja Lankinen
Bass clarinet
Emily Crook
Sonja Lankinen
Bassoon
Jakob Peäske*
Will Kidner*
Aaro Lehtovaara*
Jamie King
Contrabassoon
Jamie King
Horn
Alex Harris*
Heidi Savikuja*
Lucas Boardman
Ingrid Aukner
Jaewook Sung
Jack Bradley Buxton
Tom Hutchinson
Børge Rekstad
Trumpet
Pedro Dantas*
Euan Scott*
Katie Bannister
Jere-Pekka Laitinen
Mikko Mikkola
Trombone
Meggie Murphy*
Joni Taskinen*
Jose Teixeira
Gabriel Ferreira
Bass trombone
Jose Teixeira
Euphonium
Pau Hernández Santamaria
Tuba
Nuppu Salmioranta
Timpani
Atte Karhinen*
Julie Scheuren
Murray Sedgwick*
Percussions
Donatien Conversat*
Isaac Harari*
Atte Karhinen
Pietari Huhtinen
Murray Sedgwick
Harp
Tannaz Beigi*
Maaria Pulakka*
Celesta
Sadaeja Oh
Organ
Ben Collyer
*Section Principal
Choir
Kristina Bogataj
Bláthnaid Conroy Murphy
Tove Djupsjöbacka
Keri Kallio
Eira Karlson
Sanna Korpi
Veera Kuusirati
Hanna Lammi
Lotte Lehikoinen
Essi Lind
Sabrina Ljungberg
Sofia Majanen
Meri Metsomäki
Eleriin Müüripeal
Anna-Maaria Oramo
Aino Peltomaa
Elisabet Petsalo
Sointu Pitkänen
Maija Rautasuo
Sirkku Rintamäki
Emmi Saulamaa
Jutta Seppinen
Susanna Sippola
Mirjam Solomon
Emma Suszko
Wilhelmína Tómasdóttir
Viivi Tulkki
Kirsi Tunkkari
Coaches
First violin, Gabrielle Lester
Second violin, Shlomy Dobrinsky
Viola, Terry Nettle
Cello, Tim Walden
Double bass, Tom Goodman
Tutti strings, Toby Purser
Woodwinds, Marie Lloyd
Brass, Amos Miller
Percussions, David Hockings, Grahame King
Harp, Lucy Wakeford
Celesta, Elizabeth Burley
Assistant conductor, Konstantinos Vallios
Choir master, George Parris
Royal College of Music Administration
Artistic Director, Stephen Johns
Head of Performance, Programming and Faculties, Flo Ambrose
Orchestra Manager, Daniella Rossi
Concert and Venue Manager, Grace Cattell
Performance and Programming Assistant, Chris Michie
Sibelius Academy Administration
Professor of Orchestra Conducting Studies and Orchestral Education, Sakari Oramo
Head of Production for Orchestral Activities, Nina Lackman
Orchestra Managers, Anna Rombach, Márta Schmidt
Coordinator, Mirka Rättyä
Stage managers, David Claudio, Jani Roppola, Mirjami Kärkkäinen, Wanqiu Long, Carolina Stenbäck