Help the orchestra, don't disturb it!

The Finns are said to be grumpy and tightlipped. Jorma Panula doesn't make an exception. On the contrary! His contributions are rare, his diction reduced to the essential. But what he has to say always hits the mark. As teacher of conducting he is a legend. He was chief conductor of the renowned Helsinki Philharmonic and conducted numerous operas. Among his compositions are an opera, a violin conert, church music, musicals and pop songs which are quite successful in Finnland. In 1973 he became Professor of Conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki - and shortly afterwards a young generation of Finnish conductors surprised the music scene with their quality and number: Esa-Pekka Sdonen and Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Osmo Vänskä and Sakari Oramo, later Mikko Franck and Susanna Mälkki. Today all of them - only a few among many others - belong to the exclusive circle of the very best conductors. All have studied with Jorma Panula. Since 1993 Panula is officially pensioned - but he did not retire. He is teaching at the Academies in Helsinki and Stockholm, has a class of conducting for students under 18 years at the Sibelius Academy and travels to seminars, masterclasses and competitions all over the world.

Panula (76) obviously enjoys working with young musicians. Being curious and open, he is an authority you are not afraid to talk to. He answers to all questions - friendly, calm and encouraging. With a word, a gesture, a hint he points to the score. The student looks, looks again and then understands. "Suddenly you begin to see: Ah, this was my mistake" says Andis Nelsons, who once completed a masterclass with Panula. "His knowledge is enormous and he very precisely diagnoses what was wrong. And expects you to find the solution yourself." (Excerpt from a report in the journal "Partituren")

Short Biography

Born in Finland, Jorma Panula was the artistic director of he Turku Philharmonic Orchestra from 1963 to 1965, the Helsinki Philharmonic from 1965 to 1972 and the Aarhus Symphony from 1970 to 1973. He has been a frequent guest conductor throughout Europe and has appeared as conductor of the Finnish National Opera.Jorma Panula was Professor of Conducting at the Sibelius Academy from 1973 to 1994 and on the faculties of the Copenhagen Royal Academy and Stockholm Royal Academy, where he still is a Professor of Conducting. Aside from conducting he has also composed a wide variety of music. He has been a guest conductor and professor for conducting courses all over the world including London, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, New York, Tanglewood and Aspen. He has also led five editions of the National Arts Centre Conductors Programme in Ottawa and from 1998 to 2004 the Young Conductors Programme in Australia arranged by Symphony Australia.