Jukka Mertanen

II violin

I was born in Finland but spent my childhood and youth up until the age of 17 in North America, specifically in Canada for four years and then in Los Angeles in the USA, which is where I began my violin and piano studies.

I thought I would become a scientist, a microbiologist, and I actually began studies in the field when I relocated to Finland in the 1970s. After a couple of years in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Helsinki, my love of music prevailed, and I applied to and was accepted for the Sibelius Academy.

In Los Angeles, I had studied the violin with Olga Blasyna and Eunice Wennermark-Price; my teachers in Finland included Anja Ignatius and Paavo Pohjola. I completed my violin diploma in 1982 and was a founding member of the Hämeenlinna Quartet, with which I played until 1987. When I heard that a new orchestra was being set up, the Tapiola Sinfonietta, I auditioned and have been a member of this dear orchestra ever since. I have held several elected posts in the orchestra and in the Musicians’ Union, particularly its Helsinki chapter.

I have been recording the concerts of the Tapiola Sinfonietta through the mastering studio of my recording studio company since 2006. I am now finding inspiration in studying composition, particularly for film and video music. This is in support of a multiple-year video project that I have. I have also enjoyed photography as a hobby for a considerable time.