Antti Rissanen, conductor
Antti Rissanen is a multi-professional musician who divides his time between playing the trombone, composing, arranging, teaching, and conducting. He began his music studies at the age of six at the Kotkan-Seudun musiikkiopisto (Kotka Region Music Institute), learning to play the piano using the Japanese Suzuki method. He completed his professional studies at the Sibelius Academy, the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin, and The New School University in New York. Rissanen earned his doctorate in music from the Sibelius Academy in the spring of 2015.
Inspired by his grandfather, who was an opera singer, and the father of a childhood friend, who was a conductor, Rissanen began his path as a conductor at the young age of 15. While most of his conducting work has been focused on big bands and rhythm music, over the past fifteen years he has also regularly conducted various symphony orchestras. He is currently the principal conductor of five big bands and makes many guest appearances both in Finland and abroad each year.
Since 2010, Rissanen has served as the chief conductor of the George Garanian Foundation’s big band in Moscow, as well as the conductor of the Tampere Pops Orchestra, a position he took on in autumn 2014. He has been a guest project conductor for UMO (Uusinta Musiikin Orkesteri) since 1999 and acted as the orchestra’s artistic partner during the years 2012–2013.
Rissanen has worked as a musician in numerous pop and jazz bands and big bands both in Finland and abroad, and has participated in several international tours in more than 25 countries. Among the bands he has played with are Juha Tapio, Paula Koivuniemi, Popeda, the Dancing with the Stars orchestra (Tanssii Tähtien Kanssa), the Suomilove orchestra, UMO, and the Cologne Radio Big Band. In total, he has made around 600 arrangements for various soloists, symphony orchestras, and big bands. He began composing at an early age—already before starting school—and has now been performing his own works professionally for about 30 years.
Rissanen’s primary position is currently within Metropolia University of Applied Sciences’ music education program, where he is the lead teacher for pop/jazz wind instruments, leads bands, and teaches improvisation and orchestral conducting. From 2007 to 2011, he was a lecturer at the Sibelius Academy. He has also taught at many summer courses both in Finland and abroad and has served on various international competition juries.
Ciara Orlandi, song
Chiara Orlandi is an Italian jazz vocalist based in Helsinki. She has performed on several occasions with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, the Imatra Big Band, and the Ilmavoimien Big Band, as well as in smaller ensembles ranging from acoustic duos to jazz combos. She graduated in Jazz Vocals from the Conservatory of Verona and is currently continuing her studies at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and the Sibelius Academy. Her artistry combines the depth of jazz with the lyricism of her Italian heritage, bringing audiences performances filled with warmth, nuance, and elegance.
Juki Välipakka, song
Juki Välipakka is a Finnish professional musician: singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Välipakka began playing the trumpet at the age of eight and the guitar at thirteen. In 1992, he started vocal studies at the Oulunkylä Pop & Jazz Conservatory. He graduated in spring 2001 from Stadia University of Applied Sciences with a degree in pop-jazz music education, qualifying as a singing teacher. Välipakka was voted Male Soloist of the Year in the Jazzrytmit magazine critics’ poll in 1996–99 and 2001–2003. According to Helsinki Sanomat critic Jukka Hauru, “Välipakka masters scat singing, fast vocalizations, vocal improvisations, and nuanced mood expressions.”
