Jussi Tuhkanen

  • Music
10.11.2021 12.23Updated: 17.8.2023 7.45
Violinist holding a violin like a guitar.
Photo: Esko Keski-Oja

Viola, principal

The first time that music, or sound, made an impression on me was hearing the orchestra tune up at the Savonlinna Opera Festival. This must have been in the late 1980s, and I have my grandmother to thank for the tickets.

The most important single reason for me becoming a musician was meeting my first viola teacher, Emil Langbord, at the sensitive age of 16. Up until then, I had taken the path of least resistance as far as practising for music lessons was concerned. With Langbord, I began to actually enjoy practising for the first time.

After my long and thorough studies, mostly in Finland, I was fortunate to find employment with all other orchestras in Helsinki before being hired as a Principal with the Tapiola Sinfonietta in 2018.

What I like about our orchestra is how musically omnivorous it is, what a good team spirit it has and how good the synergy is in merging working in an orchestra the size of the Tapiola Sinfonietta with playing with the Kamus Quartet, which is also important for me.

Away from work, I am also an omnivore when it comes to music or my beloved pastime of cooking.