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Elisa Kerola is a Finnish classical pianist known for her virtuosic performances and sensitive interpretations of a wide range of repertoire. Born in Helsinki in 1981, Kerola began playing the piano at the age of five and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. She studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in piano performance. Kerola's early career was marked by a series of impressive competition wins. In 2003, she won first prize at the International Maj Lind Piano Competition in Helsinki, and the following year she was awarded the prestigious Pro Musica Prize by the Finnish Cultural Foundation. In 2005, she won the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship, which allowed her to study with renowned pianist and pedagogue Maria João Pires in Portugal. Kerola's international career took off in the late 2000s, with performances in major concert halls across Europe and Asia. She has appeared as a soloist with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. She has also collaborated with conductors such as Sakari Oramo, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and Osmo Vänskä. One of Kerola's most notable performances was her debut at the BBC Proms in 2011, where she played Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jiří Bělohlávek. The performance was widely praised for its elegance, clarity, and emotional depth, and cemented Kerola's reputation as one of the most exciting young pianists of her generation. Kerola's repertoire is wide-ranging and includes works by composers from Bach to Ligeti. She has a particular affinity for the music of Chopin, and has recorded several albums of his works, including a critically acclaimed disc of the complete Nocturnes. She is also a champion of contemporary music, and has premiered works by Finnish composers such as Kaija Saariaho and Magnus Lindberg. In addition to her performing career, Kerola is also a dedicated teacher and mentor. She has taught at the Sibelius Academy and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich, and has given masterclasses around the world. She is known for her patient and supportive approach to teaching, and for her ability to inspire young musicians to reach their full potential. Kerola has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 2012, she was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal by the President of Finland in recognition of her contributions to Finnish culture. She has also been named a Steinway Artist, and in 2019 she was awarded the Finnish Music Publishers' Association's Record of the Year award for her album of Chopin's Nocturnes. Despite her many accomplishments, Kerola remains humble and dedicated to her craft. She is known for her tireless work ethic and her commitment to bringing out the best in every piece of music she plays. As she continues to perform and teach around the world, she remains a shining example of the power of music to inspire and uplift us all.

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