Jukka Tiensuu

Full biography Jukka Tiensuu

Jukka Tiensuu is a prominent contemporary composer and musician hailing from Finland. Born on May 31, 1948, in Helsinki, Tiensuu has been an active composer, pianist and conductor for several decades, and has been instrumental in bringing Finnish contemporary music to audiences across the world.

Tiensuu studied composition at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki from 1970 to 1973, where he learned from notable composers such as Aulis Sallinen, Einojuhani Rautavaara and Paavo Heininen. After completing his studies, Tiensuu embarked upon a successful career as a composer and musician, with performances of his compositions taking place all over the world.

In addition to his work as a composer, Tiensuu is also a skilled performer and conductor. He has played in numerous contemporary music ensembles, including the Ensemble Modern, Musikfabrik and the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, and has conducted orchestras around the world, including the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.

Some of Tiensuu's most prominent compositions include "Puro" (1997), a suite for amplified viola and percussion, as well as "Plus II" (1998), which features a large percussion ensemble and electric instruments. He has also composed several operas, including "Eleanor" (2006), which is based on the life of English philosopher and writer Eleanor Marx.

Tiensuu's contributions to Finnish contemporary music have been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including the Prix Italia for his multimedia work "At the Edge of Light" (1992), as well as the Finnish State Prize for Music in 2003.

In short, Jukka Tiensuu is a prolific and critically acclaimed composer, pianist and conductor whose innovative and thought-provoking compositions have left an indelible mark on contemporary music.