Biography

I was born the son of two musicians in Helsinki, Finland. As a result, I grew up surrounded by lots of fantastic music - J.S.Bach, for example, had a big influence on me from very early on. I was also surrounded by a wide range of vocal music - everything from Scandinavian choral traditions to really freaky contemporary stuff.

I started cello lessons at the age of five and piano lessons at the age of six. The cello was never my thing, and I stopped playing 11 years later. Nevertheless, it has provided great enrichment to my work as a music arranger. Without having struggled through it, I wouldn't have had the amazing moments I had as a member of a symphony orchestra.

I had my first bands already during elementary school. We were, of course, reaching for the stars and trying to sound like our idols - not very far from the present, eh? So instead of practicing Bach, I guess I spent more time listening to and learning the music of artists and bands like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Wham, Bon Jovi, and Toto. Meanwhile, classical music always maintained a special place in my heart--already in my childhood, Baroque music and the piano concerti of Mozart often transported me to another world.

Suddenly at the age of fourteen, I felt a strong motivation from within myself to take classical music seriously, and began practicing the piano in earnest. About three years later, I even began to feel that this might become my profession. I really never considered any other profession, although I was interested in theology, philosophy, and other languages. I have also always loved acting, especially comedies, and that's why I really love working with actors.

During my concert pianist studies at Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, I got to play a lot of Lied, opera, and chamber music. I had excellent teachers, and found many life-long friends amongst my fellow students there.

The arduous journey to find one's own voice is full of obstacles, but it is one well worth the sweat and tears…

• Master of Music, Sibelius-Academy
  (Concert Pianist, Lied Pianist, Piano Pedagogue)
• Professors: Gustav Djupsjöbacka, Tuija Hakkila, Carlos Juris, Kata Nummi, Ilmo Ranta
• Master Courses: Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Florent Boffard, Konstantin Bogino, Hartmut Höll, Liisa Pohjola, François Le Roux
• Concerts in Europe, South America and Asia
• Debut Album "DEBUTANGO" 2008 (FI-5JR-07)

"There are pianist and then there are PIANIST and Jarkko is truly the PIANIST. His dedication and devotion to his art is remarkable, the way he goes from one style to another seamlessly is incredible. Jarkko has a vast range of repetoire and is always on the hunt to find and learn more. We'll be hearing more about and from Jarkko in the not so distant future."
- F.Dion Davis, performer -

"Not only a pianist, a chamber musician, a fantastic partner for singers (whom I've seen
working in masterclasses, and in concerts), but also a great seeker of unusual musical
paths... Quite a special guy !"

- François Le Roux, baritone -