Milestones and rectors of Sibelius Academy

Sibelius Academy milestones

HELSINKI MUSIC INSTITUTE 1882-1924

• 1882 Helsinki Music Association is established on 11 March 1882 at the Student House  (Ylioppilastalo). The purpose of the association is to maintain, among others, the Music Institute, whose director is Martin Wegelius.
• 1884 The Music Institute primary school and secondary school  open along with the Institute.
• 1885 – 1889 Jean Sibelius studies composition and violin at the Helsinki Music Institute.
• 1903 The sixth concert of the 1903-1904 academic year is also the 300th concert of the Institute.
• 1906 The number of students increases, but the Association’s already poor financial situation continues to deteriorate. State aid and tuition fees cover most of the activities, and membership fees lose their significance by 1911.
• 1914 Robert Kajanus Orchestra School merges with the music school.
• 1914 The first performance of the opera class  at the Music Institute.

HELSINKI CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC 1924-1939

• 1924 The Music Institute name is changed to the Helsinki Conservatory of Music. The owner of the conservatory Helsinki Music College Ltd receives support from both the central and local government.
• 1927 The first student concert is held on 29 March 1927.
• 1931 The main building of the Conservatory is completed behind Parliament House at the address Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 9. With its completion, Helsinki gained a large, world-class concert hall.

SIBELIUS ACADEMY 1939-1966 (private higher education institution)

• 1939 The Winter War interrupts Sibelius Academy activities for the entire academic year. Due to the war, the state aid policy for using betting and lottery proceeds to promote the arts hinders the school’s activities. During the Winter War, Sibelius Academy receives the first concert organs in Finland.
• 1944 Warfare makes it difficult to carry on with activities at Sibelius Academy, but it still manages to continue despite the bombing.
• 1951 Sibelius Academy assumes responsibility for all church music education in the country when the Helsinki Church Music Institute is merged with the Academy as a special faculty.
• 1960 The new church music faculty and school music faculty are established alongside the old youth music faculty, military music faculty, Conservatory and higher education institution. The activities of the church music faculty expand to Kuopio as cooperation with the Kuopio Conservatory is intensified.

SIBELIUS ACADEMY 1966-1980 (private higher education institution receiving statutory state aid)

• 1966 Sibelius Academy is included in the scope of regular statutory state aid under a new act.
• 1970 Student residence hall Clavis opens at the beginning of January.
• 1977 The military music faculty is closed.

SIBELIUS ACADEMY 1980-2012 (state higher education institution)

• 1980 Sibelius Academy is established as a state higher education institution, eliminating the former faculty structure and transferring their tasks to departments.
• 1983 Sibelius Academy gains access to the former adult education institute building (T-building) at Töölönkatu 28. The degree programmes in folk music and jazz are established.
• 1985 The first Sibelius Academy conferment ceremony is held in May.
• 1987 The Kallio-Kuninkala buildings are inaugurated by Sibelius Academy in August, with the opening of Sibelius Academy Musical Centre.
• 1990 Cellist Raimo Sariola and violinist Lajos Garam are the first to earn a Doctor of Music degree at Sibelius Academy.
• 1992 The degree programme in opera is established in 1992.
• 1997 The Arts Management programme is established.
• 1998 The degree programme in music technology is established.
• 1999 The DocMus Doctoral Programme in Classical Music, with a focus on music performance and composition, is established. The degree programme in opera and vocal arts programme are combined.
• 2006 Construction of the Helsinki Music Centre begins. Sibelius Academy’s SibaFest held for the first time.
• 2011 The Helsinki Music Centre is handed over to its owners on 30 April 2011. The first piece to be performed in the inaugural concert is Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia.
• 2012 Sibelius Academy’s sojourn as an independent university ends, becoming one of the academies of Uniarts Helsinki at the beginning of 2013, along with the Academy of Fine Arts and the Theatre Academy.

Directors and rectors

• Martin Wegelius, 1882–1906
• Armas Järnefelt, 1906–1907
• Karl Ekman, 1907–1911
• Erkki Melartin, 1911–1936
• Ernst Linko, 1936–1959
• Taneli Kuusisto, 1959–1971
• Veikko Helasvuo, 1971–1981
• Ellen Helevuo-Urho, 1981–1987
• Tuomas Haapanen, 1987–1990
• Erkki Rautio, 1990–1993
• Lassi Rajamaa, 1993–1999
• Pekka Vapaavuori, 1999–2004
• Gustav Djupsjöbacka, 2004–2012
• Tuomas Auvinen, 2012–2016
• Kaarlo Hildén, 2017–2020
• Emilie Gardberg 2021–