Country

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Finland

 

Mikko Mustonen is a Finnish conductor, composer, and violinist who has made a name for himself in the world of classical music. Born on May 17, 1973, in Helsinki, Finland, Mustonen grew up in a family of musicians. His father, Esa-Pekka Salonen, is a renowned conductor and composer, and his mother, Ritva Mustonen, is a violinist. Mustonen began playing the violin at the age of four and showed an early talent for music. Mustonen's musical education began at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he studied violin with Tuomas Haapanen and composition with Eero Hämeenniemi. He later continued his studies at the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied conducting with Colin Metters and violin with Felix Andrievsky. Mustonen also studied composition with Magnus Lindberg and Kaija Saariaho. Mustonen's career as a conductor began in 1997 when he was appointed as the principal conductor of the Tapiola Sinfonietta, a chamber orchestra based in Espoo, Finland. He held this position until 2003 and during his tenure, he led the orchestra in numerous performances and recordings. In 2003, Mustonen was appointed as the principal conductor of the Oulu Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 2006. In addition to his work as a conductor, Mustonen is also an accomplished composer. He has written works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. His compositions have been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, and the London Sinfonietta. Mustonen's career as a violinist has also been notable. He has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, and the London Sinfonietta. He has also performed in chamber ensembles, including the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra and the Meta4 String Quartet. One of the highlights of Mustonen's career as a conductor was his appointment as the principal guest conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra in 2009. He held this position until 2013 and during his tenure, he led the orchestra in numerous performances and recordings. In 2013, Mustonen was appointed as the principal conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he held until 2016. Mustonen has also been recognized for his work as a conductor and composer. In 2003, he was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Music, one of the highest honors in Finnish music. In 2005, he was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal, which is awarded by the President of Finland for outstanding artistic achievements. In 2010, he was awarded the Nordic Council Music Prize, which is awarded annually to a Nordic composer or musician. In recent years, Mustonen has continued to be active as a conductor, composer, and violinist. He has conducted orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He has also continued to write new works, including a violin concerto that was premiered by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in 2018. In conclusion, Mikko Mustonen is a highly accomplished musician who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music as a conductor, composer, and violinist. His early musical education and family background in music set the foundation for his successful career.

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