Artistic Directors

Jaani Helander graduated from the Sibelius Academy in 2013 after studying with Martti Rousi and has been a member of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra since then. Helander is currently studying under professor Natalia Gutman in the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole in Florence, Italy. He also teaches cello at the Sibelius Academy. Helander was awarded second prize at the Turku Cello Competition in 2010 and 1st prize in the string instrument competition at the ISA Festival in Austria the same year. In Finland he has performed as a soloist with the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Joensuu City Orchestra and the Guard’s Band, among others, and in Austria with the Spirit of Europe -chamber orchestra.

An energetic, dynamic and diverse violinist, Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä is frequently invited to perform internationally as a soloist, chamber musician and concertmaster. Since 2017, she has been Artistic Director of and violinist at the Helsinki Chamber Music Festival.  A recognised concertmaster, Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä has led the Vaasa City Orchestra (2012), the Danish National Chamber Orchestra (2013–) and the Oulu Symphony Orchestra (2015). She has had concertmaster engagements not only in several Nordic symphony orchestras but also the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the iPalpiti Chamber Orchestra, the Atlantic Music Festival Orchestra and others, and in recent years the Norwegian Opera Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony, Helsinki and Turku Philharmonics.