Johanna Kärkkäinen (Finland) - Juho Laitinen (Finland) - Kimmo Rahunen (Finland)
Johanna Kärkkäinen (b.1987) studies flute both at the Sibelius Academy and at the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. She has particular interest in new music, poetry and painting. Kärkkäinen has played a great deal of chamber music in several orchestras and in various occasions – the most significant ones being Young Euro Classic 2008, Musica Nova Helsinkin in 2009 and Aikamme kamarimusiikkia (Chamber Music of Our Time) Festival in both 2009 and 2010. In spring 2009, Kärkkäinen founded Se Ensemble, in which she plays the solo flute. The objective of Se Ensemble is to play versatile high quality music and to search for new ways of expression. For Kärkkäinen and her ensemble, breaking the boundaries is a means to bring new music closer to the listeners. Kärkkäinen is also the chair of Se Ensemble Society.
Juho Laitinen (b.1977) is a cellist and a versatile musician whose interests and repertoire vary from baroque and Middle Eastern classical music to avantgarde and electroacoustic expression. Laitinen has graduated from the Arts Academy at Turku University of Applied Sciences and from the Royal College of Music in London, and has complemented his studies in Rome and New York. His recent performances include recitals in Musica Nova Helsinki as well as in The Chech Republic, Italy, Germany, Russia and The United States. Juho Laitinen is the artistic director of Kallio New Music Days – a festival that was first celebrated in January 2010. At the moment Laitinen is working on a doctoral thesis at the Sibelius Academy on innovations in the 20th century cello compositions. Juho Laitinen is also the editor of Amfion webzine. (www.amfion.fi). www.juholaitinen.com
Kimmo Rahunen (b.1977 in Savonlinna) is one of the most versatile Finnish guitarists of his generation. He has studied at the Arts Academy of Turku University of Applied Sciences, the Sibelius Academy and at The Liszt School of Music in Weimar, Germany. In 2005, Rahunen won the Nordic Guitar Competition in Jyväskylä and in 2006 he was chosen as the first ever classical guitarist for the position of regional artist in the Arts Council of Satakunta. During his time in Satakunta, Rahunen acted as an artist and producer in a number of projects. Among those were Confusion – a concert and a DVD of newest music from Satakunta which Rahunen produced – and Aldebaran Rising – a project created and produced by Rahunen, that combined music, sound and experimental film. Rahunen tours Europe on a regular basis performing Finnish contemporary music. In 2009, he played in the premiere of a guitar quintet by Pertti Jalava. Rahunen has also recorded Jalava’s music for Yle Radio 1 and for Rondo FM. Rahunen lives and works in Petäjävesi. He is a producer of Musicam Video being responsible for music, concert and other production duties with the executive producer. www.myspace.com/kimmorahunen
Photos: Jan Virtanen 2010
