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Outi Tarkiainen is a Finnish composer who was born on May 17, 1985, in Oulu, Finland. She grew up in a musical family, with her mother being a music teacher and her father a choir conductor. Tarkiainen started playing the piano at the age of six and later learned to play the violin and the guitar. She also sang in a choir and played in a band during her teenage years. Tarkiainen studied music at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where she received her Master's degree in composition in 2012. During her studies, she was awarded several scholarships and prizes, including the prestigious Magnus Lindberg Prize in 2010. She also studied composition with renowned composers such as Kaija Saariaho, Magnus Lindberg, and Jukka Tiensuu. Tarkiainen's music is characterized by its emotional intensity, rich harmonies, and use of folk music elements. She often draws inspiration from nature, mythology, and Finnish folklore. Her works range from solo pieces to large-scale orchestral works and have been performed by leading orchestras and ensembles in Finland and abroad. One of Tarkiainen's most notable works is her orchestral piece "Midnight Sun Variations," which was commissioned by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in 2014. The piece is based on a folk melody from the Finnish region of Lapland and depicts the phenomenon of the midnight sun, where the sun does not set during the summer months. The work has been praised for its evocative atmosphere and imaginative orchestration. Another significant work by Tarkiainen is her chamber opera "The Earth, Spring's Daughter," which premiered in Helsinki in 2018. The opera is based on a Finnish myth about the creation of the world and explores themes of love, death, and rebirth. The work features a small ensemble of singers and instrumentalists and has been praised for its lyrical beauty and dramatic power. Tarkiainen has also composed several works for choir, including "The Tears of the Angels," which was commissioned by the Finnish Radio Chamber Choir in 2016. The piece is based on a poem by the Finnish poet Eino Leino and explores the theme of grief and loss. The work has been praised for its haunting beauty and emotional depth. In addition to her work as a composer, Tarkiainen is also a teacher and lecturer. She has taught composition at the Sibelius Academy and the Oulu Conservatory and has given lectures and workshops on her music in Finland and abroad. Overall, Outi Tarkiainen is a talented and highly regarded composer whose music has been praised for its emotional depth, imaginative orchestration, and use of folk music elements. Her works have been performed by leading orchestras and ensembles in Finland and abroad, and she continues to be a significant figure in the Finnish music scene.

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