I have studied at the Sibelius Academy, completing a church organist´s degree in 1968 and composition diploma under Prof. Jouko Tolonen in 1973. I was an organist of Pohja Finnish parish from 1969 to 1971 and Lecturer in Musicology at the University of Jyväskylä from 1971 to 2000. I fouded the Musica Choir at the Department of Musicology in 1977 and I still conduct the choir. I am also conducted Vox Aurea, the children´s choir of the music classes of Jyväskylä schools, since 1994.
I have received the following prizes and recognitions:
- arts prize of the Province of Central Finland 1979
- Church of Finldan composition prize 1983
- Kalevala scholarship of the Kordelin Foundation 1984
- "Kekrinpäivä" (Allhallows) prize of the Kalevala Society 1984
- working member of the Kalevala Society from 1988
- cultural scholarship of the Mittnordenkommitté (Mid-Nordic committee) 1989
- Klemerri prize of the Finnish Amateur Musicians´Association (SULASOL)1990
- Knigh of the Order of the Lion of Finland 1994
- Folk Music festival Kaustinen plaque 1995
- composition prize of the Federation of Euripean Choral Organizations (AGEC),
Die Goldene Stimmgabel 1995
- culture prize of the City of Jyväskylä 2001
- The Finnish Cultural Foundation grant for composing 2001
- 2nd prize in the "Communio" composition competition of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland 2002
- 1st prize in the composition competition of the Cantores Minores boys´choir 2002
- Heinz Hofmann -medal of the Finnish Youth Choir Association 2003
- several honoraty memberships of choirs and orchestras
- Valtion säveltaidetoimikunnan taiteilija-apurahat vuosina 1976, 1983 - 1985, 1987 - 1989,
1995 - 1997
- Jyväskylän Taide- ja Tiedesäätiön apuraha vuosina 1999 - 2004 ja 1.1. - 30.6. 2005
- an Honorary Doctorate at University of Jyväskylä 2004
Sävellyksiäni on esitetty ja levytetty jo kymmeniä vuosia ja esitetään ja levytetään edelleenkin ympäri maailmaa: lukuisissa Euroopan maissa, Etelä-Amerikassa, Yhdysvalloissa, Kanadassa, Uudessa Seelannissa, Australiassa, Japanissa, Taiwanilla, Hong Kongissa, Malesiassa, Etelä-Afrikassa. Hyvin monet kuorot, niin koti- kuin ulkomaisetkin, valitsevat kilpailukappaleikseen sävellyksiäni (esim: Jaakobin Pojat, Jaakobin Isot Pojat, Regina angelorum, Revontulet, Mull´on heila ihana, Missa: In Deo salutare meum, Rikasmies ja aarreaitta).
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