Composer Kimmo Hakola started his musical studies with violin and piano. Quite early on, he became interested in improvisation and this path led him towards writing his own music. He chose to study at the Sibelius Academy, where important teachers have been Einojuhani Rautavaara, Eero Hämeenniemi and Magnus Lindberg.
Hakola’s breakthrough came in 1987, when his first string quartet won the UNESCO Composer’s Trophy in Paris. Today, Kimmo Hakola has a catalogue of over 100 works. His vocal works include the commissioned work Kivi-laulut (2007) by Lux Musicae, which has become a part of much-loved Finnish cultural tradition.
Hakola has written many large-scale works, such as concertos, operas, oratorios and symphonies. He has collaborated with violinist Kaija Saarikettu and together they have also premiered Hakola’s compositions. Last year’s Lux Musicae featured the work Two Imaginary Birds, composed for the coloratura soprano Piia Komsi. This year we will hear a new violin sonata with Hakola himself playing the piano part.
Hakola was the artistic director of the Helsinki “Musica nova”Festival 1999-2006 and Lux Musicae 2015-2018. Kimmo Hakola’s music has been recorded with the Ondine and Innova labels.
