GeneralpauseGeneralpauseTravels of a young and aspiring orchestra conductor. Stories about concerts, rehearsals, competitions, master classes... Articles
My Teachers Part 11: Exchange at the DKDM
2008-06-03 13:44:00 As a part of my Sibelius Academy studies I did a short student exchange in Copenhagen in 2005, at the Royal Danish Academy of Music (Det kongelige danske musikkonservatorium, DKDM for short). My teacher there was Frans Rasmussen, seen conducting in the video clip above. He is a great fellow and really an intelligent and supportive teacher, and I... Read My Teachers Part 11: Exchange at the DKDM
My Teachers Part 10: The Choral Experience
2008-06-02 18:03:00 I also wanted to take a choral conducting course while in the Sibelius Academy, since in my opinion you really need to try your hand on this instrument if you want to conduct opera. Choral singers have a totally different mind-set than the orchestral players and thus you need a different set of tools if you are to make the best out of them. In... Read My Teachers Part 10: The Choral Experience
My Teachers Part 9: The Band Experience
2008-06-02 17:33:00 At the Sibelius Academy I took a course of wind orchestra conducting, which was led by the Finnish horn player and conductor Kalervo Kulmala. We were also taught by Elias Seppälä, Kari Tikka and Pertti Pekkanen, among others. Pekkanen left a particularly good impression as a teacher, because he did not hesitate to show the students a beautiful... Read My Teachers Part 9: The Band Experience More About: The Band
In Orleans with the Orchestre EDF
2008-05-31 16:27:00 While in Paris I have joined the ranks of the Orchestre EDF (Électricité de France) as violoncellist. Their conductor Ludovic Perez whom I met in the Matacic competition gave me this wonderful chance to get back to my old main instrument. It has been a long time since I last played in an orchestra and I almost forgot how much fun it can be!... Read In Orleans with the Orchestre EDF
My Teachers Part 8: Yuri Simonov
2008-05-30 01:22:00 I finish my Russian "Troika" with Yuri Simonov , the formidable ex-chief of the Bolshoi theatre in Moscow. I took part to his master class twice and saw him rehearse orchestra many times. He has easily the best control over his baton I have seen anywhere in the world! I also admire his skills of organization and his dutifulness in... Read My Teachers Part 8: Yuri Simonov
Riccardo Muti Live Streaming Today!
2008-05-29 00:24:00 This week I have been observing the famous Italian conductor Riccardo Muti in rehearsal with the Orchestre National de France and the Radio Philharmonic Choir. They prepared a program of Porpora, Cherubini and Schubert for the Saint-Denis Festival here in Paris. Muti's rehearsing gave me a lot to think about and for many different reasons. He... Read Riccardo Muti Live Streaming Today ! More About: Live streaming
My Teachers Part 7: Piotr Gribanov
2008-05-27 21:41:00 Piotr Gribanov had a big influence on my conducting although I took just one masterclass and a few private lessons with him. He also was the person to give me my first concert with a professional orchestra - the St Petersburg Congress Orchestra which he was heading at that time. My program was huge and the main number was the symphonic poem... Read My Teachers Part 7: Piotr Gribanov
My Teachers Part 6: Leonid Korchmar
2008-05-26 17:04:00 When I was about to finish my violoncello studies in Helsinki I made a trip to St Petersburg, Russia, and met professor Leonid Korchmar there. Our coincidental meeting resulted in nearly four incredible years of intensive study of symphonic and operatic conducting at the St Petersburg "Rimsky-Korsakov" State Conservatory. Before that... Read My Teachers Part 6: Leonid Korchmar
My Teachers Part 5: Pekka Helasvuo
2008-05-26 16:06:00 During my violoncello studies at the Helsinki Conservatory I also took one term of "Ensemble and Orchestra Conducting" which was taught by Pekka Helasvuo. He introduced all of his students to the Saito Conducting Method, which impressed me greatly at the time. It was the first time I met a systematic approach to conducting technique!... Read My Teachers Part 5: Pekka Helasvuo
My Teachers Part 4: Atso Almila
2008-05-26 14:52:00 Composer-conductor Atso Almila was one of my early influences. He taught an open conducting class at the Sibelius Academy called "Sandbox", which basically was a playground for anyone interested in conducting. You just took your own instrument with you or sat behind one of the pianos and participated in the orchestra that way and you... Read My Teachers Part 4: Atso Almila
My Teachers Part 3: Jorma Panula
2008-05-24 23:32:00 Very soon after taking serious interest in conducting I started to work with Jorma Panula who has been behind most Finnish conductors of today. I took several masterclasses with him in addition to his regular classes as visiting professor at the Sibelius Academy. I even played a couple of concerts under his direction as a cellist! I admired him... Read My Teachers Part 3: Jorma Panula More About: Part 3
My Teachers Part 2: Paul Niemistö
2008-05-24 10:24:00 My second Murikka band camp conducting course was led by the American brass music enthusiast Paul Niemistö. I mostly remember his beautiful soprano voice when he was singing some high woodwind parts, and the fact that he liked a beating pattern system where all the beats occur at the same point - which I had to unlearn later... It was... Read My Teachers Part 2: Paul Niemistö
My Teachers Part 1: Hannu Norjanen
2008-05-23 17:40:00 The whole conducting thing for me started kind of by accident. As I mentioned earlier it all started on a band camp where we were given a chance to take a conducting course for free. I was very lucky to have Hannu Norjanen as my first teacher. He laid very good foundations for me and encouraged me to study further. At that time Hannu was... Read My Teachers Part 1: Hannu Norjanen
Beacon of Light comes to Los Angeles
2008-05-22 09:06:00 I heard wonderful news a couple of weeks ago: My friend and colleague Case Scaglione was appointed the music director of the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra in Los Angeles ! He will have an interesting three years to come, conducting five big programs a season with this young orchestra. Just take a look at their previous programs -... Read Beacon of Light comes to Los Angeles
Spring And Graduations
2008-05-21 18:24:00 Studying in three schools at the same time might not be the best strategy if you plan to graduate soon. Especially if you work at the same time as I did! That said, it is nevertheless fun to be able to celebrate your graduation several times. Yesterday was one of those fun days when I went to pick up my Musicology paper at the Helsinki University.... Read Spring And Graduations
One Year of Blogging - Happy Birthday!
2008-05-11 10:47:00 It has been exactly one year and one day of blogging today! Have I achieved anything? According to the statistics collected by my gandi.net page I get approximately a hundred hits per day - sometimes less, sometimes more - especially if I am writing from some competition. I think for a photo journal made by a non-photo-journalist (or a... Read One Year of Blogging - Happy Birthday ! More About: Happy Birthday
ONF US Tour News Watch
2008-05-02 20:21:00 The Orchestre National de France is now touring US. Here some reviews I found in the net. Wish I was there with you guys! http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/arti cles/2008/04/30/a_master_performance_deca des_in_the_making/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/cont ent/article/2008/04/29/AR2008042902881.ht ml... Read ONF US Tour News Watch
Mayday Mayday Mayday!
2008-05-01 20:59:00 Today I had a surprise "return to my roots" as a conductor - I conducted "Korson Työväen Soittokunta" wind band for the May Day festivities back here in Finland! I used to play alto sax in this band as a hobby (you might be able to spot me in the pic above), so it was fun to return to conduct them after a long while. And I also... Read Mayday Mayday Mayday!
Paris - Moscow - Mikkeli
2008-04-09 10:58:00 During past days I have been traveling so much that there was no way to update my blog, sorry! What happened is worth telling anyway: After I returned to Paris from Jyväskylä I was just spending my time with some friends at the Cité des Arts and elsewhere, and attending the rehearsals at the ONF. I was planning to go to Moscow for the following... Read Paris - Moscow - Mikkeli
The RNCM Junior Fellowship in Conducting Auditions
2008-01-25 19:11:00 A view from the bus window in Dublin where I stayed one night on my way to Manchester My driver in (and out of) Manchester, John Singh - a remarkably funny fellow! Markku and me in our audition home at RNCM Steve and Robert are seriously preparing themselves for the first round At dinner we could also relax a little - here Mirga, Chris and... Read The RNCM Junior Fellowship in Conducting Auditions
Peculiarities of the National Transport
2008-01-19 21:54:00 In the headline I quote freely a popular Russian film, "Peculiarities of the National Fishing". Why? Because my last trip to Petrozavodsk was great in all other aspects except transport-wise. I admit, it is incredible that by just 60 ? you you will be transported from your home door almost anywhere in Finland over the vast distance to... Read Peculiarities of the National Transport More About: The National
Another visit to Karelia
2008-01-09 09:37:00 In a couple of hours I will start my second epic journey (12 hours drive...) to Petrozavodsk, to work with the Karelian State Philharmonic Orchestra. This time I will assist their chief conductor Marius Stravinsky in preparing a program with Ravel "Daphnis & Chloe" 2nd Suite and his Piano Concerto for Left Hand. Both really beautiful... Read Another visit to Karelia More About: Visit
Conducting the Music School Orchestra - 3 Pros, 4 Cons and 5 Ways to Make t
2008-01-06 22:49:00 My first experiences in conducting were with amateur and student groups - I worked for a long time in different music schools conducting their student orchestras before I entered professional conducting studies in the St Petersburg conservatory. While I had some real benefit of my experience, in some ways it was also a problematic background! And... Read Conducting the Music School Orchestra - 3 Pros, 4 Cons and 5 Ways to Make the Most of It! More About: The Music
Looking Back at the Conducting Year 2007
2008-01-01 18:10:00 On the first day of 2008 it is nice to look back at the events of the past year! My year was so exhausting and eventful - I had some 15 concert performances in Finland, Russia and USA, took part in 3 international conducting competitions, took part in two master classes, organized some myself, and won an audition in France! Anyway the thing I am... Read Looking Back at the Conducting Year 2007 More About: Looking Back , The Con
Xmas Concerts in Mikkeli and Hirvensalmi
2007-12-28 21:48:00 I am so late with my concert reports, but what the heck, it's Holiday Time! So, exactly one week ago I came back from Mikkeli where I worked with the St Michel Strings. It is a 12-member string ensemble which sometimes performs on their own, sometimes with a guest conductor. This time they wanted to make a Xmas concert with a choir and an organ... Read Xmas Concerts in Mikkeli and Hirvensalmi More About: Cert
Guest Conducting the Karelian State Philharmonic Orchestra
2007-12-23 21:23:00 The Philharmonic in Petrozavodsk. Not much unlike the cultural palace in Tambov where I conducted last year... Orchestra's solo cellist discussing with administrator Olga Palchikova at the philharmonic office The concert hall from the inside Musicians arriving to the rehearsal My soloist for the Grieg piano concerto, Aleksandr Onkin... Read Guest Conducting the Karelian State Philharmonic Orchestra
Leaving for Petrozavodsk
2007-12-10 04:36:00 I am right now leaving for Petrozavodsk, Russia, to conduct a concert with the Carelian State Symphony Orchestra. I will have a great program there: Debussy Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra, Grieg Piano Concerto and Sibelius Fifth Symphony! Since there are no flights at the moment from Finland to Petrozavodsk, and the train via St Petersburg... Read Leaving for Petrozavodsk
Some reflections after the Fitelberg competition
2007-12-08 20:08:00 Now it is exactly two weeks after the Fitelberg conducting competition finished in Poland. I have been thinking a lot about all the things I saw and heard and learned there, and concluded that again it really was an experience worth living. I feel that after doing these two competitions (Matacic and Fitelberg) this autumn I am much better conductor... Read Some reflections after the Fitelberg competition More About: Competition , Reflections , Berg
Competition results & other things
More articles from this author:2007-11-25 17:20:00 On the audience side: Viswa concentrates on Lutoslawski Friends despite competition: Viswa, Yannick, Yuri, Marzena, Stas and Kasia It is my last day in Katowice, and it has been so intensive here that I absolutely had no time to update the events here. First of all, I unfortunately did not make it to the finals on Friday, but I of course went... Read Competition results & other things More About: Results , Things 1, 2, 3 |
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