Asko Heiskanen

Clarinet

Asko Heiskanen has started his clarinet playing in his hometown Kuopio in Finland and continued it in the Sibelius Academy and in the Conservatoire Superieur de Geneve. He has also been studying chamber music with professor Ralf Gothóni and historical clarinets with Lorenzo Coppola. He has achieved success in competition as well, most notably the first prize in Crusell clarinet competition in 1995. Heiskanen has performed as a soloist with orchestras and as a chamber musician in many music festivals. Since 1996 Asko Heiskanen has been member of the Tapiola Sinfonietta –chamber orchestra. He also  plays historical clarinets and chalumeaus with Ensemble Schrat, Trio Origo, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra and Finnish Baroque Orchestra.

This summer Heiskanen will perform at the opening concert on Thursday, June 12, the children's concert on June 13, on the Saukonkallio stage on June 14, and at the church concert on Saturday, June 14.

Photo: Esko Keski-Oja

David Chaillou

Composer

The French composer David Chaillou was born in 1971. An alum of the Conservatoire de Paris (CNSMDP) and the Sorbonne University, he writes for various combinations of instruments, including solo instruments, small ensembles, voice, orchestra, and mixed music. His music is an original synthesis between French music and post-minimalist school. 

He has received commissions from the National Orchestre de Bretagne, the Committee for the 500th anniversary of Trinità dei Monti in Rome, and the Beethovenfest in Bonn as part of the 50th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty between France and Germany. His recent works include: Un détour par l’Orient (text: Gerard Macé, éditions Gallimard), Opéra de Paris, 2022; La nuit des hiéroglyphes directed by Benjamin Lazar, Institut de France, Paris, 2022; Da pacem domine for choir, organ and orchestra, premiered on April 2, 2022 at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité in Paris; Léger au front, music theatre based on Fernand Léger's letters during the First World War and performed 2018 at the Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris, performed by Jacques Gamblin in French and Karl Markovics in the German Version; Little Nemo, a children opera first performed at Angers Nantes Opéra in 2017. 

The opera was honoured with the Prix de l’Association Beaumarchais (SACD) and broadcasted by France Musique. Natures (2024), his second monographic recording following Légendes for piano (2020), performed by Finnish pianist Laura Mikkola, has been nominated in the Contemporary Music category of the 2025 International Classical Music Awards. David Chaillou is also senior lecturer at the University of Lille.

Chaillou has been to Iitti Music Festival before as composer guest in 2011 and 2017. This year he returns with his oeuvre Le renard de verre, which will have its world premiere at the opening concert on Thursday at Iitti Church on June 12.

Photo: Ulf Andersen

Fredrika Mikkola

Violin

Fredrika Mikkola is in her final year of studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris under the direction of maestro Philippe Graffin. Mikkola's musical speciality was noticed early on. She has been taught by Professor Tuomas Haapanen right up until the latter's last years. In Paris, Mikkola has taken lessons from Constantin Bogdanas and Florin Sziget and studied under José Alvarés. At the Iitti Music Festival, she has played increasingly demanding repertoire year after year alongside her mother, pianist Laura Mikkola.

This summer Mikkola will perform at the Verla Factory Museum with Pepe Willberg on June 11, at the opening concert at Iitti Church on June 12, at the children's concert on June 13, at the Saturday concert on June 14, and on the Saukonkallio stage on June 14.

Photo: Tiina Närkki

Gabriel Kivivuori Sereno

Baritone

Gabriel Kivivuori Sereno is a Mexican-Finnish baritone, composer and pianist. He is awarded in the 32nd Timo Mustakallio singing competition and Helsinki Lied competition. He won the first price in the 4th Uuno Klami composition competition for young composers in 2022. Kivivuori Sereno is recently finishing his bachlor’s degree at the Sibelius Academy song as his main subject and composition as the  second subject.

In spite of his young age Kivivuori Sereno has performed with outstanding artists and orchestras and had roles in opera productions. In 2024 Kivivuori Sereno was nominated as soloist of the year by Päivi and Paavo Lipponen’s Trust Fund and young artist of the year by Kaustinen Chamber Music Week.

This summer Kivivuori Sereno will perform at the Saturday afternoon concert in Saukonkallio and at the Hiidenvuori night concert together with soprano Olga Heikkilä and pianist Juhani Lagerspetz.

Photo: Elisaveta Rimkevitch

Helsingin poliisisoittokunta / Helsinki Police Symphonic Band

Orchestra

Helsinki Police Symphonic Band is a professional symphonic band comprising 43 musicians. The band has been performing for over 70 years. It represents the Finnish Police through music in different events nationally and internationally and is especially known for its versatility. In addition to wind compositions, the band’s repertoire includes folk music, jazz, rock, pop and children’s music. 

The Band was founded in 1947 to promote relations between citizens and the police. Preventative work has been important for them throughout their existence. The full orchestra performs over 100 awareness-raising concerts aimed at children and teenagers every year all around Finland. The band seeks continually new Finnish music for it’s repertoire. Since 2012 Sami Ruusuvuori has been the chief conductor of the orchestra.

In 2020 the Finnish Wind Band Association granted the Wind Band Of The Year award to Helsinki Police Symphonic Band.

This summer the Police Symphonic Band will perform at the Friday church concert on June 13th with Konsta Hietanen as their soloist.

Iina Helander

Visual Artist

In addition to being an active Visual Artist Iina Helander is a prominent figure in the cultural life of Iitti. Her paintings, aquarelles and art candles have been seen in more than 60 exhibitions in Finland and abroad. Helander’s art is often dreamlike, as the light and intense colours are essential. 

Helander studied art in Savonlinna Art College, Free Art School and the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. When young she aimed to be a musician, but the violin bow was soon replaced by a paintbrush. Helander has worked as a Gallerist and had an arts and crafts company for 25 years. Presently she teaches arts and crafts as well as actively acts in amateur theatres. In 2014 she was given the Iitti Cultural Prize.

Helander's art will be on display at the summer café alongside works by Jegori Koski from 11th to 23rd of June 2025. Opening ceremony on the 10th at 6pm.

Photo: Veera Konsti

Iitin festivaaliorkesteri / Iitti Festival Orchestra

Chamber Orchestra

The Festival Orchestra of Friday's children's concert will feature Sami Junnonen, flute; Asko Heiskanen, clarinet; Tuomas Rousi, violin; Fredrika Mikkola, violin; Katariina Ruokonen, viola; Tomas Nuñez, cello and Laura Mikkola, piano.

The Festival Orchestra will be narrated by actor Tom Pöysti. The children's concert will also feature the Helsinki Police Band's children's ensemble Leijonapartio.

Jegori Koski

Visual Artist

Jegori Koski is a painter from Lappeenranta who studied at the Free Art School. He has lived in Paris since 1982 and is a member of the French Artists' Association. He has represented France in for example the Shanghai Biennale in 2010.

Koski's artistic work centers on the constructivist style. His art illustrates how simple changes in combinations of colors and geometric shapes can have a significant impact. The continuous repetition of shapes and colors in his work symbolizes continuity. Koski strongly integrates his work with music; classical music is always present when he paints, and this musical rhythm can be perceived in his artworks. Koski was the first artist Laura Mikkola invited to Iitti Music Festival 2004.

Koski's art will be on display at the Kirkonkylä summer café with the works of Iina Helander from 10 to 23 June 2025. Opening ceremony on 10 June at 6 pm.

Juhani Lagerspetz

Piano

Juhani Lagerspetz made his debut as soloist at the age of thirteen, playing Shostakovich's Second Piano Concerto with Okko Kamu and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has won competitions in Finland (the Ilmari Hannikainen piano competition in 1975 and the Maj Lind Competition in 1976) and placed well in international competitions too, his most significant achievement being special prize of the jury at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1982. 

During his long career Lagerspetz  has collaborated with many outstanding conductors and orchestras in Europe. He is also active as a chamber musician. Lagerspetz has performed dozens of piano concertos and an extensive series of concert programs: such as the four Rachmaninov piano concertos on two consecutive evenings or works by Beethoven, Brahms and Ravel. He has made numerous recordings. 

Lagerspetz is also a tenured teacher in piano at the Sibelius Academy. In 2009 he was appointed as a piano professor of the Sibelius Academy for a five-year term.

This summer Lagerspetz will perform at the opening concert at Iitti Church on June 12 and the Saturday concert on June 14, on the Saukonkallio stage on June 14, and at the Hiidenvuori night concert on June 14.

Jukka Orma

Guitar

Jukka Orma can rightly be called a Finnish guitar legend. He has had a multi-generational career since the late 1970s. Over the decades, Orma has played in an astonishing number of Finnish bands, such as Hassinen kone, Sielun Veljet, Hurriganes and Piirpauke, as well as in the backing bands of Rauli Badding Somerjoki and M.A. Numminen. During his career, Jukka Orma has released three solo albums and has been a producer for many bands.

Over the past year, Orma has been touring and recording blues-pop, focusing on freer musical improvisation and composing music for his upcoming album. He composed the music for his 2012 recording Öisin olemme samanlaisia to poems by his wife Anja Snellman.

This summer Orma will perform with his band OL&A at Radalla Resort on Friday, June 13th at 9:30 PM.

Katariina Ruokonen

Viola

Born in Iitti, Katariina Ruokonen is trained as both a violinist and a viola player. She began her studies at the Pohjois-Kymi Music Institute, and completed her professional degree at the Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences with Anatoli Melnikov and Ulla Kekko. Ruokonen has also studied violin at the Liszt Academy in Budapest under Professor Mária Vermes. She has played in several different orchestras and has given concerts with them, for example in China, Japan and various parts of Europe. Ruokonen currently works as a viola player at the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and also plays in chamber music ensembles.

This summer Ruokonen will perform at the opening concert at Iitti Church on June 12th and at the children's concert on June 13th, as well as on the Saukonkallio stage on June 14th.

Photo: Tommi Käppi

Konsta Hietanen

Soloist

Konsta Hietanen is known as an actor, singer, songwriter and football player. He began his singing career by winning the Tenavatähdet singing competition with the song “Daa-da, daa-da” in 1994. Since then, he has sung, acted in films, been a voice actor in cartoons and appeared in television series. Hietanen is one of the most active giggers in our country and has a career as both a singer-songwriter and a soloist. He mostly gigs with his own band or alone with his guitar, but has also performed as a soloist with large orchestras.

This summer Hietanen will perform as a soloist with the Helsinki Police Symphonic Band at Iitti Church on Friday, June 13th at 7 p.m.

Photo: Pia Rautio

Laura Hynninen

Harp

Harpist, composer and visual artist Laura Hynninen has performed as a soloist and chamber musician since the 90’s. She studied the harp in Sibelius Academy with Riitta Paavola and Willy Postma. Laura Hynninen had permanent positions as a principal harpist in Finnish National Opera (2000-2013) and Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (2013-2015) before switching over as a free lancer. Laura Hynninen is also the artistic director of Sysmän Suvisoitto music festival, and is known for her versatile work over different genres.

In her solo projects Laura Hynninen combines her own music and visual art in a unique way. She has been awarded several times, f.e. Yle’s Record of the Year 2021, Emma music award nomination 2022 and 2024, L.I.E.D. composing competition special prize 2024, Pro Musica award 2024, and Indie Awards prize 2025.

This summer Hynninen will perform at the opening concert of the Music Festival in Iitti Church on June 12 at 7 p.m.

Photo: Ville Hautakangas

Laura Mikkola

Artistic Director, Piano

Pianist Laura Mikkola founded the Iitti Music Festival in 2003 and has been the festival's Artistic Director ever since.

Mikkola, who lives in Paris, performs extensively in Europe and beyond. She is particularly known as a profound connoisseur and interpreter of Eino-Juhani Rautavaara. She has recorded all of Rautavaara's piano concertos and solo piano works, as well as works composed for solo piano by Einar Englund.

Having won numerous piano competitions at the age of under 20, Mikkola has worked with the most renowned conductors, such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Hannu Linnu, Leif Segerstam, Paavo Järvi, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Ahmed El-Saed. In 2024, Laura Mikkola was elected a Steinway Artist in Hamburg, Germany. The title is given to the best pianists of their era.

This summer Mikkola will perform at the Verla Factory Museum with Pepe Willberg on June 11, at Iitti Church at the opening concert on June 12, children's concert on June 13 and Saturday concert on June 14, as well as on the Saukonkallio stage on June 14.

Photo: Heikki Tuuli

Leijonapartio

Children's band

Leijonapartio is one of the children's bands of the Helsinki Police Symphonic Band, which visits primary schools and events aimed at children. During the performance, children can reminisce and reflect on, among other things, safety issues while listening to engaging music. Some of the songs are old favorites and some are brand new. The line-up includes clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, piano, guitar, bass and drums. All players also sing during the performance.

Leijonapartio will perform at the children's concert on Friday at Iitti Church on 13 June at 1 pm. The concert will also feature the Iitti Festival Orchestra, narrated by actor Tom Pöysti.

Michel Runtz

Composer

The French-Swiss pianist and composer Michel Runtz began his classical piano studies in Paris, but became interested in composing at an early age. Encouraged by his teachers, he began to search for his own musical language. Runtz is known as a versatile and experimental composer. He has sought aesthetic influences from, for example, the visual arts, and has explored the integration of light elements into his compositions. Among visual artists, he was particularly impressed by the surrealist painter Paul Devaux, with whom he became friends and to whom he has dedicated his works.

Michel Runtz's compositions are popular in the repertoire of international piano competitions. Runtz has founded the renowned Fribourg International Piano Competition for Young Pianists and the Shanghai Sino-Swiss Piano Competition. Both of these competitions focus on new piano music. Runtz teaches and lectures diligently and has worked as a teacher in his hometown of Fribourg, as well as at the conservatories of Shanghai, Geneva, Strasbourg and Ruiel-Malmaison.

Runtz's music will be heard in Iitti this summer on Saturday 14 June at Iitti Church and on the Saukonkallio stage. The programme includes, among other works, the world premiere of Répliques for violin and piano. Runtz will also be heard at a composers' meeting at the Summer Café between concerts at 5 pm.

OL&A: Orma, Löytty & Ala-Kojola

Band

Guitarist, singer and songwriter Jukka Orma has been boiled in many rhythmic broths over the decades. His collaboration with bassist Mikko Löytty began in the 90s in Hurriganes. Drummer Harri Ala-Kojola plays with Löytty in the band SF Blues while being a trusted drummer for many TV productions. OL&A's repertoire consists of classics, surprises and their own productions.

The band will perform this summer at Radalla Resort on Friday, June 13th at 9:30 PM.

Olga Heikkilä

Soprano

Lyric soprano Olga Heikkilä is an opera singer whose repertoire ranges from Renaissance to Contemporary Music. Heikkilä is enjoying an international career and in recent years has performed at the San Francisco Opera (2024), the Royal Opera of England (2023), the Dutch National Opera (2023), the Aix-en-Provence Opera Festival (2019) and the Berlin State Opera (2017). Heikkilä is a regular guest soloist at the Finnish National Opera and Savonlinna Opera Festival. Heikkilä has sung numerous roles in traditional opera repertoire, baroque operas as well as experimental contemporary world premieres. Her voice has inspired several Finnish composers and she has both premiered and commissioned several contemporary works. In addition, Heikkilä also composes herself.

Heikkilä is also a dedicated vocal pedagogy at the vocal music department of Sibelius Academy. She is currently completing her artistic doctorate at the DocMus Doctoral School of the Sibelius Academy studying Sprechgesang and the expressiveness of voice.

This summer Heikkilä will perform with a chamber ensemble at the Saturday church concert and with a trio at the Hiidenvuori night concert. The night concert, which culminates the music festival, will feature Heikkilä with baritone Gabriel Kivivuori Sereno and pianist Juhani Lagerspetz.

Photo: Merja Yeung

Oskari Auramo

Rumpali, lyömäsoittaja

Oskari Auramo is a percussionist and drummer from Helsinki who has worked in both light and classical music for almost two decades. His broad background has taken him to many different projects, and he cites the versatility of his work as the most important aspect of his work.

Auramo has worked as a percussionist in the Guards Band of the Presidential Orchestra since 2014. One of his main tasks in recent years has been to act as the leader and drummer of the Guard Combo, known from the Independence Day celebrations. The duties of music producer and band leader as part of the country's most watched television program have offered a unique opportunity to collaborate with artists and other cultural professionals.

As a freelance musician, he has performed, for example, in the bands of Diandra and Krista Siegfrids in recent years and has also been seen frequently in the ranks of the Vantaa Entertainment Orchestra.

Auramo is a founding member of the TAKOMO collective and the TIMO Brass Band. He has worked as a musician in city orchestras and theaters, as well as a teacher and trainer in various educational institutions and courses. Auramo's playing can also be heard on the albums of Finnish metal bands Amorphis and Finntroll.

Since 2019, Auramo has played in Pepe Willberg's bands and is currently also part of Ressu Redford's touring lineup.

This summer Auramo will perform with Pepe Willberg's piano quintet at the Verla Factory Museum on June 11th at 6 and 8 p.m.

Pepe Willberg

Soloist

Pepe Willberg's musical career has been amazing. His success began in the 1960s with the band Islander and has continued uninterrupted for over 60 years as a guitarist, singer and songwriter. Willberg's songs from the 60s and 70s, such as Elämältä kaiken sain, Saat miehen kyyneliin, Taivas itkee sadoiin pisaroin, have become icons of Finnish pop music.

During his career, Willberg has composed music for himself as well as other artists and has been successful in various composition competitions. In recent years, he himself says that he has been "working below the surface", but the huge success of the album Pepe & Saimaa brought him back into the Finnish consciousness.

Willberg has received several awards in his career, the most recent being: Iskelmä Finlandia 2011, Kultalevy 2014, and three awards at the Emma Gala in 2015: Male Soloist of the Year, Rock Album of the Year and Critics' Choice. British music magazine MOJO chose Pepe & Saimaa as the album of the year 2014.

In 2016 Willberg celebrated his 50th anniversary as an artist and his 70th birthday.

Willberg will perform this summer at the Verla Factory Museum with a piano quintet on June 11th at 6 and 8 p.m.

Photo: Atte Malaska

Sami Junnonen

Flute

Sami Junnonen enjoys a varied and successful career as an internationally acclaimed flutist. His virtuosity, musicality, and comfort within a wide and diverse repertoire have led him to collaborate with a remarkable array of celebrated artists, composers, and ensembles. His 2012 debut recital at the Helsinki Music Centre in his native Finland, and his 2018 solo debut with the Houston Symphony Orchestra in Texas, USA, received outstanding reviews.

In addition to his solo career, Junnonen has served as principal flutist in several renowned orchestras, including the Iceland Symphony, the Cairo Symphony, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the Auckland Philharmonia in New Zealand, and the Royal Northern Sinfonia in the UK. He has taught flute and chamber music performance at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and Fordham University in New York, USA, and has conducted masterclasses around the world.

​His recording of The Complete W.A. Mozart Flute Quartets with Chamber Domaine, released by Resonus Classics, won the Audience Award in the Finnish Album of the Year 2018, promoted by the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle). His 2024 release, Flute Concertos – Ibert, Jolivet & Rodrigo (Resonus Classics), was chosen as the Album of the Week by the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR). The Flute View, the leading American flute magazine, described the release as "a colossal album that will inspire for generations to come".

This summer Junnonen will perform at Iitti Church at the opening concert on June 12, the children's concert on June 13 and the Saturday concert on June 14, as well as on the Saukonkallio stage on June 14. 

Photo: Esajuha Posti

Sami Ruusuvuori

Conductor

Doctor of Music Sami Ruusuvuori serves as Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Police Symphonic Band. Ruusuvuori has previously worked as the conductor of the Representative Orchestra of the President of the Republic, the Guards Band and the Chief Conductor of the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defence Forces. He has a deep understanding of classical, jazz and commercial music which has allowed him to work with many of Finland’s best musicians. 

Ruusuvuori is a strong proponent of new music and has commissioned and premiered many new pieces. Ruusuvuori completed his doctorate in music in the spring of 2022 with a thesis on the Symphonic wind band and the European repertoire composed for it. His research has attracted widespread international interest. Since 2023, Ruusuvuori has been President of the Finnish Wind Band Association and from 2024 on the Board of the World Association of Symphony Orchestras and Ensembles.

The Helsinki Police Symphonic Band, conducted by Ruusuvuori, will perform at Iitti Church on Friday, June 13 at 7 p.m. with soloist Konsta Hietanen.

Kuva: Tommy Levy

Tarmo Anttila

Double Bass

Tarmo Anttila has played in the bass groups of Finland's most important symphony orchestras, such as the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra and the Finnish National Opera Orchestra. He has also worked as a musician, composer and arranger in pop, rock, jazz and folk music groups such as Tjango!, Joonas Widenius Trio, Snekka and Game Music Collective.

This summer he will perform at Pepe Willberg's concerts at the Verla Factory Museum on 11 June, at the children's church concert on 13 June and on the Saukonkallio stage on 14 June.

Photo by Tuomas Tenkanen

Tom Pöysti

Actor, Narrator

Tom Pöysti graduated from theatre school in 1979. He worked as an actor in theatres, on TV and on the radio until 2002. He is one of the founding members of the Comedy Theatre. Tom Pöysti is a popular speaker who combines humour with profound insights in a surprising way. In his lectures, he likes to discuss the importance of attitude, courage and dedication. As his motto, he mentions the phrase: “The past is the past. It should not be denied. This moment is a challenge that must be overcome. But tomorrow is what I thirst for”. In 2024, Pöysti published a book with musician and actor Mato Valtonen, 112 oivallusta elämästä (112 insights into life).

This summer Pöysti will perform as a narrator at the Friday children's concert at Iitti Church on June 13th at 1 pm and will give a lecture at the Summer Café after the concert at 5:30 pm.

Tomas Nuñez

Cello

Tomas Nuñez began his cello studies at the Åland Music Institute at the age of six. He continued his studies at the Turku Conservatory and later at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. In 2010 he won first prize at the XI Cello Competition in Turku. He was also rewarded for the best performance of the work commissioned for the competition and voted as the public's favorite. 

Nuñez performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician and has played with orchestras such as the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic, the Finnish National Opera Orchestra, Sinfonia Lahti and the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra. He has also recorded and premiered many chamber music and solo works. Since 2017 he has been the Principal Cellist in the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 

Nuñez plays a Lorenzo & Tomaso Carcassi cello from 1779, owned by the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE.

This summer Nuñez will perform at the Verla Factory Museum in Pepe Willberg's Piano Quintet on June 11, at Iitti Church at the opening concert on June 12, the children's concert on June 13 and the Saturday concert on June 14, as well as on the Saukonkallio stage on June 14.

Tuomas Rousi

Viulu

Violinist and conductor Tuomas Rousi has performed as a chamber musician at numerous festivals in Finland and elsewhere in Europe. As a conductor, he has conducted the most important Finnish orchestras and also orchestras elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

Rousi studied violin at the Turku Conservatory, Paris and Switzerland, as well as at the Utrecht Conservatory and the Sibelius Academy. In the conducting class at the Sibelius Academy, he studied under Jorma Panula, Atso Almila, Eri Klas and Leif Segerstam. He currently conducts the Helsinki Concordia, the Metropolia Orchestra and the Kauniainen Orchestra. In the second international Sibelius Conducting Competition in 2000, he received the Yleisradio special prize and was among the top six.

This summer Rousi will perform at Iitti Church at the opening concert on June 12, the children's concert on June 13 and the Saturday concert on June 14, as well as on the Saukonkallio stage on June 14.