Olli Kortekangas

Composer

Olli Kortekangas is one of the most popular Finnish composers of today. He studied music theory and composition at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki under the direction of Einojuhani Rautavaara and Eero Hämeenniemi, and continued his studies in West Berlin with Dieter Schnebel. Subsequently Kortekangas has worked as a teacher, and has taken part in a number of educational projects with children and youth, both in Finland and abroad.

Kortekangas’ music has been featured in concerts and at festivals around the world, and he is currently working on several domestic and international commissions. He has received numerous scholarships and awards in Finland and abroad, including the Special Prize of the Prix Italia Competition and the City of Salzburg Opera Prize, the prestigious Teosto Prize and the Espoo Medal in 2008. He has been granted a 5-year-scholarship of the Arts Council of Finland four times.

The composer’s oeuvre consists of over 160 works from solo pieces and chamber music to orchestral works and operas. Since his early days as a choral singer, Kortekangas has been attracted to the human voice. He has written nine operas and worked closely with some of the best Finnish choirs.

His composition for solo cello will be premiere at the Larufest on Thu, June 11th at 20 La Belle Époque concert.

Photo: Saara Vuorjoki