The event took place at the Helsinki Music Centre on 17 December 2024 and consisted of a panel discussion and a concert.
We ended the year 2024 by celebrating the launch of the Instrument Academies Association and Finnish music education at the Helsinki Music Centre's Glazed Foyer on Tuesday evening 17 December 2024.The launch event began with a welcome speech by Executive Director Ninni Sulva-Vakkilainen and a panel discussion on talent and how to support it.
The panel included Susanna Pettersson, CEO of the Finnish Cultural Foundation; Pirre Raijas, Doctor of Music and cultural director of Järvenpää, Finland; Petri Alanko, flutist and programme director of wind instruments at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts; Ossi Tanner, pianist and alum of the Youth Piano Academy Finland; and Erkki Liikanen, former chair of the board of the Association of Finnish Symphony Orchestras and former governor of the Bank of Finland. Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen was unfortunately unable to attend the panel discussion.
The discussion was followed by a concert featuring current students of the Instrument Academies: Maximilian Fagerlund (piano), Lilja Haatainen (violin), Peppi Ikonen (trumpet), Einari Järvinen (tuba), Kaisla Koivunoro (French horn), Martta Kunnola (viola), Saima Malmivaara (cello), Ella Oksava (piano), Inari Setälä (trombone) ja Viggo Sundqvist (trumpet).
We would like to thank all the performers, panelists and audience for making the evening so memorable!
The group photo features all the performers of the launch event, from left to right: Saima Malmivaara, Peppi Ikonen, Kaisla Koivunoro, Martta Kunnola, Maximilian Fagerlund, Inari Setälä, Viggo Sundqvist, Ella Oksava, Einari Järvinen ja Lilja Haatainen. Photo: Jani Telatie
Photos from the event
