Maarit Kyllönen

II violin

I was born in Sweden, which is where I started school and started playing the violin. After we moved to Finland, I studied the violin at the Espoo Music Institute, which is where I am still enrolled, though as a teacher for nearly 30 years now.

Having finished school, I went off to study at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, where I completed my Master’s degree. It was also in Moscow that I met a wonderful Dutch pianist boy.

In 1987, a top-quality orchestra was being set up in Espoo. I applied and was accepted, but I was still thinking of the Netherlands. I decided to go there to study for two more years, and the aforementioned pianist came to Finland with me when I returned. We have three children, who now perform under the name Trio Roozeman. The pianist and I have been journeying together for nearly 30 years.

The best things about my job are my wonderful colleagues and the constantly changing visiting conductors and soloists. Playing new repertoire every week is also an agreeable challenge. With music as with food, I am omnivorous. I live on the edge of a large forest where I like to go walking and biking to restore my energy.