Mikko Perkola is a Finnish classical music artist who has made a name for himself as a virtuoso on the viola da gamba. Born in Helsinki in 1968, Perkola grew up in a musical family and began playing the cello at a young age. However, it was not until he discovered the viola da gamba that he found his true calling. Perkola began studying the viola da gamba with Markku Luolajan-Mikkola at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He quickly distinguished himself as a talented and dedicated student, and went on to study with some of the world's leading gamba players, including Jordi Savall and Wieland Kuijken. Perkola's career as a professional musician began in the early 1990s, when he joined the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra. He quickly became one of the ensemble's most valued members, and his virtuosic playing and sensitive musicality were praised by audiences and critics alike. In 1995, Perkola was invited to join the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, led by the renowned conductor and harpsichordist Ton Koopman. This was a major turning point in Perkola's career, as it gave him the opportunity to perform with some of the world's most respected musicians and to play in many of the world's most prestigious concert halls. Perkola's reputation as a soloist and chamber musician continued to grow throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He performed regularly with ensembles such as the Academy of Ancient Music, the English Concert, and Les Arts Florissants, and collaborated with many of the leading figures in the early music world, including Gustav Leonhardt, Monica Huggett, and Andrew Manze. One of the highlights of Perkola's career came in 2006, when he was invited to perform at the BBC Proms in London. He played the solo part in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, accompanied by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. The performance was widely praised for its energy, precision, and musicality, and cemented Perkola's reputation as one of the world's leading gamba players. Perkola has also been recognized for his work as a recording artist. He has released several critically acclaimed albums, including a recording of Bach's cello suites on the viola da gamba, which was praised by Gramophone magazine as "a revelatory performance that sheds new light on these familiar works." He has also recorded works by Marin Marais, Georg Philipp Telemann, and other composers of the Baroque era. In addition to his work as a performer and recording artist, Perkola is also a respected teacher and scholar. He has taught at the Sibelius Academy and the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, and has given masterclasses and workshops around the world. He has also written extensively on the history and technique of the viola da gamba, and is considered one of the leading authorities on the instrument. Throughout his career, Perkola has been recognized for his contributions to the world of classical music. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Finnish State Prize for Music in 2003 and the Order of the Lion of Finland in 2012. He is also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music and the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. Today, Mikko Perkola continues to perform, record, and teach, and remains one of the most respected and admired musicians in the world of early music.

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