Tiina Myllärinen
Tiina Myllärinen (b. 1979) writes music that has been described as cheerfully inquisitive, vigorous and original. She has composed orchestral, choral, chamber and solo works and experimented with electroacoustic music and video. Her first opera, inter-art and site-specific Bubbling Under was premiered in Our Festival 2023. Outside Finland works by her have been performed in the United States, Japan, Italy, Spain, England, Austria, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Iceland and Norway. Among those who have commissioned works from her are the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Musica nova -festival, the Pro Musica Foundation, the Helsinki Chamber Choir, the University of Helsinki, the Time of Music festival, the Uusinta Ensemble, NeoQuartet, Akartia trio, Superpluck and The Sea Lapland String Quartet.
Tiina Myllärinen has recently developed an interest in the application and study of various acoustic phenomena, such as resonance, reflections and reverberation, in her music. She is also working for an artistic doctorate at the Sibelius Academy on the subject.
MOST IMPORTANT RECENT PERFORMANCES
Daydreams (2025) – NeoQuartet, NeoArte -Synthesizer of the Arts -festival, Gdansk, Poland 26.10.2025
Risonanza VI (2024) -Daniela Braun, viola d’amore, Musica nova -festival, Helsinki 11.2. and 12.2.2025
Reflections (2024) -Jan Lehtola, organ, Musica nova -festival, Helsinki 8.2.2025
Morfo blu (2021) -Sirja Nironen, cello, Tampere Biennale, 13.4.2024
Delante – Detrás (2023) -Akartia trio, Musikagileak-festival, Basque Country, Spain, 10.11.2023
(Bad) Dreams come true -The Sea Lapland String Quartet, tour with five concerts in Sea Lapland area 24.10.-8.11.2023
Bubbling Under -a multiartistic “nonopera” with Henriikka Tavi (text) and Ia Ensterä (scenography), for 4 singers (Helsinki Chamber Choir) and 5 instruments, Heta Aho dir. Taavi Oramo cond. Tuusula 22.-25.7.2023
(Bad) Dreams come true -Uusinta Ensemble, Oberstdorf Internationales festival forum für neue music, Oberstdorf, Germany 25.3.2023
(Bad) Dreams come true -Uusinta Ensemble, Musica nova -festival, Helsinki 11.3.2023
Summer Images -Superpluck trio, Aichi University of the Arts, Japan 5.12.2022
Summer Images -Superpluck trio, Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Japan 3.12.2022
MOST IMPORTANT COMMISSIONS
The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra – work for large symphony orchestra, fp. Helsinki spring 2028
NeoQuartet -third string quartet, fp. Poland NeoArte -festival, October 2026
Hochschule für Musik Würzburg and Kekkonen quartet -work for four guitars, fp. 1st part in Würzburg, Germany May 2025, whole work in Summer Sounds Festival, Porvoo June 2026
Musica nova -work for solo organ, fp. Helsinki Music Centre February 2025
Neo Quartet -second string quartet, fp. Poland October 2025
Akartia trio -work for soprano, saxophone and accordion, fp. Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain November 2023
Superpluck -work for kantele, guitar and harpsichord, fp. Okinawa, Japan December 2022
Uusinta Ensemble and Sea Lapland String Quartet–string quartet, fp. 2022
Helsinki university -conferment cantata for soprano, choir and chamber orchestra for the conferment ceremony at the faculty of philosophy, fp. May 2019
Helsinki Chamber Choir –work for mixed choir, fp. Helsinki, February 2017
Pro Musica Foundation –work for large symphony orchestra, fp. Musiikkitalo Helsinki, June 2014
Time of Music festival –work for five percussionists, fp. Viitasaari, July 2011
OTHER RECENT COMMISSIONS
Morphosis Duo -work for baritone saxophone and live-electronics, fp. Contemporaneus -festival, Spain 2029
Àlex Garrobé -work for solo guitar, fp. Festival Internacional de Guitarra Petrer, Spain 2028
Meeri Pulakka, work for solo soprano, fp. Helsinki 2028
Pia Freund -a stage work for soprano, guitar, bandoneon and two dancers, a joint project with other artists, fp. Tampere, April 2026
Tiina Karakorpi -work for solo piano, fp. Tarvaspää Espoo, May 2025
Daniela Braun -work for viola d’amore, fp. Musica nova Helsinki, February 2025
Pirkanmaan musiikkiopisto, a pedagogical music project -a work in 3 movements for violin player students -fp. Tampere Biennale, April 2024
Jyrki Myllärinen -work for solo guitar, fp. Helsinki, April 2024
AWARDS, HONORS, IMPORTANT GRANTS
Composition Delante – Detrás was runner-up in Ivan Juritz Prize -competition, London June 2024
Awarded as the “Art music composer of the year” in the small scale work category by Finnish Music Publishers Association with the string quartet “(Bad) Dreams come true” 2023
Grant from Koneen Säätiö for composing and producing large inter-art, site-specific work Pinnan alla 2021
Working grants from Arts Promotion Centre Finland 2016 (3 years), 2013 (1 year)
Working grants from Finnish cultural foundation 2015, 2012, 2011
Grant from Pro Musica foundation 2013
Grant from Martin Wegelius –foundation 2011
PUBLICATIONS
Fennica Gehrman has published works Daydreams (2025), Guitar quartet (2025-26), Bubbling Under (2023), (Bad) Dreams come true (2022), Railo (2015), Traces (2014), Squarcio (2011), what? (2010) and Three songs (2007)
NeoQuartet records all of my three string quartets for SibaRecords, publication of CD in 2028
The Polytech Choir (Juha Kuivanen cond.) has made a recording of my work Kaikki kuuluu värinä (PKCD23, 2013)
My works have been recorded for radio in Finland (YLE) and Island (RÙV).
OTHER UPCOMING AND PAST PERFORMANCES
Grotta Azzurra – work for solo guitar, Jyrki Myllärinen, Kotka 11.10.2025
Tule, uni, uinottamah – work for soprano and piano, Meeri Pulakka and Tiina Karakorpi, Espoo 11.5.2025
Tombeau pour un enfant – work for solo piano, Tiina Karakorpi, Maryn sormenjäljillä -concert series, Espoo 11.5.2025
Grotta Azzurra – work for solo guitar, Jyrki Myllärinen, Värinää-festival, Järvenpää 18.3.2025
Grotta Azzurra – work for solo guitar, Jyrki Myllärinen, Ja kitara soi -festival, Lappeenranta 9.11.2024
Grotta Azzurra -work for solo guitar, Jyrki Myllärinen DocMus concert, Helsinki 20.4.2024
Autumn Suite -pedagogical work for solo violin, Kaisa Oikarinen, Siru Haahti and Rosalia Raijas, Tampere Biennale 14.4.2024
Morfo blu -work for solo cello, Sirja Nironen, Tampere Biennale 13.4.2024
Grotta Azzurra -work for solo guitar, Jyrki Myllärinen recital, Mikkeli 12.4.2024
Grotta Azzurra -work for solo guitar, Jyrki Myllärinen recital, Kuopio 10.4.2024
Tule uni uinottamah -Pia Freund, soprano and Martin Hellström, piano, Helsinki Music Centre 23.1.2024
Morfo blu -work for solo cello, Eeva Rysä, Hietsu is Happening -concert series, Helsinki, 21.8.2023
(Bad) Dreams come true for string quartet -Uusinta Ensemble, Turku Guitar Festival, 25.11.2022
Morfo blu -a work for solo cello, Eeva Rysä, Klang concert series, Helsinki 25.9.2022
Kaikki kuuluu Värinä -Värinä Chamber Choir, dir. Noora Hirn, Helsinki 13.11.2021
Risonanza V: La Preghiera -a solo for three kanteles, Marja Nevankallio, Ja kitara soi -festival, Lappeenranta 15.11.2019
Conferment Cantata – Meeri Pulakka, soprano, Academic Choral Society, Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra, Tomas Djupsjöbacka cond., Helsinki 24.5.2019
Kaikki kuuluu Värinä – Chamber Choir Värinä, Noora Hirn cond., 5-year anniversary concert, Helsinki 27.10.2018
Farewell – trio for violin, quartertoneaccordeon and two organs, Pasi Eerikäinen, Veli Kujala, Susanne Kujala, Ja kitara soi –festival, Lappeenranta 19.11.2017
Risonanza IV –work for solo piano, Aura Go, Musiikkitalo Camerata-hall, Helsinki 19.5.2017
Three songs -Terhi Mastovaara, soprano, Plinio Fernandes, guitar, Kalle-Pekka Koponen, cello, Royal Academy of Music, London, England, May 2017
Hallan vaaraa -Terhi Mastovaara, sopraano ja Florence Awotula, mezzosoprano, Royal Academy of Music, London, England, May 2017
Railo – Helsinki Chamber Choir, Nils Schweckendiek cond., Musica nova –festival, Kiasma theater, Helsinki 7.2.2017
Risonanza II : play/off –work for a guitarist, three videos and 8-channel electronics, Otto Tolonen and Alejandro Olarte, Kantakaupungin kitarakonsertit –concert series, Balder-hall, Helsinki 1.12. 2016
Risonanza II : play/off – work for a guitarist, three videos and 8-channel electronics, Otto Tolonen and Alejandro Olarte, Ja kitara soi –festival, Kehruuhuone Lappeenranta 12.11.2016
Resonance -Ensemble der Kunstuniversität Graz, Austria, 10.6.2016
Risonanza II : play/off – work for a guitarist, three videos and 8-channel electronics, Otto Tolonen and Alejandro Olarte, Musiikkitalo Camerata-hall, Helsinki 20.5.2016
Three songs for mezzosoprano, guitar and cello -Nyky ensemble, Musiikkitalo Camerata-hall, Helsinki 18.3.2016
Two songs of Three songs for mezzosoprano, guitar and cello -Terhi Mastovaara, Orestis Willemen and Katariina Kolehmainen, WeW-festival, nursing home Wilen, Turku 6.2.2016
Song cycle with poems in Karelian language for soprano and percussion -Sanna Heikkinen, Mikael Heikkilä, Nurmeksen Joulumusiikki –concert series, Hannikainen-hall, Nurmes 30.12.2015
Farewell –trio for violin, quartertoneaccordeon and two organs, Pasi Eerikäinen, Veli Kujala, Susanne Kujala, Kallio Church, Helsinki 8.6.2015
Song cycle with poems in Karelian language for soprano and percussion -Sanna Heikkinen, Mikael Heikkilä, Carelia-hall, Joensuu 27.6.2014
Traces – work for symphony orchestra, Pro Musica Foundation’s orchestra, Atso Almila cond., Musiikkitalo, Helsinki 5.6.2014
Three songs for mezzosoprano, guitar and cello -Annika Fuhrmann, Jyrki Myllärinen, Markus Hohti, Ja kitara soi-festival, Lappeenranta 1.11.2013
Risonanza I -Ari Lehtonen, accordion, Hancock, United States, 26.9.2013
Risonanza I –piece for solo accordeon, Ari Lehtonen, Musiikkitalo, Camerata-hall, Helsinki 11.4.2013
Ballo in maschera –work for cello and live-electronics, Defun Ensemble, ja kitara soi -festival, Lappeenranta, 28.10.2012
Squarcio –CAPUT sinfonietta, Gudni Franzson cond., Ung Nordisk Music -festival, Northern Lights Hall, Harpa, Reykjavik 1.9.2012
Bits and Pieces – miniature for string orchestra, Avanti! string orchestra, Dalia Stasevska cond., Grand, Porvoo 30.6.2012
Kaikki kuuluu värinä –The Polytech Choir, Juha Kuivanen cond., Tampere Biennale, Tampere-talo, 18.4.2012
Ballo in maschera – work for cello and live-electronics, Defun Ensemble, Musiikkitalo Camerata-hall, Helsinki, 2.4.2012
Fantasy – solo work for organ (version for pneumatic organ), Toni Pussinen, Musiikkitalo Organo-hall, Helsinki 26.1.2012
Squarcio –Ensemble der hmt Rostock, Konstantin Heuer cond., Rostock 21.11.2011
Flash –Osuma percussion quintet, Time of Music festival, Viitasaari, 9.7.2011
Fantasy – solo work for organ (version for mechanical action organ), Susanne Kujala, Kallio church, Helsinki, 22.5.2011
Kaikki kuuluu värinä – The Polytech Choir, Juha Kuivanen cond., Sellosali, Espoo 11.5.2011
Hallan vaaraa – vocal duo, Sanna Heikkinen, Laura Vire, Ung Nordisk Musik festival, Helsinki, 20.9.2010
Hallan vaaraa – vocal duo, Sanna Heikkinen, Laura Vire, Runokuu –festival, Helsinki 29.8.2010
Gagaku-music – miniature octet in Japanese theme, players of Avanti! chamber orchestra, Tuomas Hannikainen cond., Suvisoitto festival, Porvoo, 3.7.2010
Puhallus -St. Christopher Woodwind Quintet, Druskininkai, Lithuania 29.5.2010
Kaikki kuuluu värinä –The Polytech Choir, Juha Kuivanen cond., 110-year anniversary concert, Helsinki, 22.5.2010
what? – orchestral work, workshop concert with Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Dmitri Slobodeniouk cond., Helsinki, 26.3.2010
Three songs -Jutta Seppinen, mezzosoprano and Asamisimasa, Ung Nordisk Musik, Oslo 1.9.2008
Quattro piccolo pezzi drammatici -Valerio Starace, violin, Carmine Matino, viola, Gianpaolo Nigro, cello, Naples, Italy 13.6.2005
EDUCATION
Doctoral studies in composition with Beat Furrer, Kunstuniversität Graz, spring 2016
Doctoral studies in composition with Veli-Matti Puumala and Jukka Tiensuu 2013-
MM, Sibelius-Academy, Helsinki, Finland, 2012
Masters studies in composition with Veli-Matti Puumala, Tapio Nevanlinna, Tapio Tuomela and Tapani Länsiö 2005-2012
Composition studies with Patrizio Marrone at S. Pietro a Majella, Naples, Italy
BA, Sibelius-Academy, Helsinki, Finland, 2003
Bachelor studies in classical guitar 1998-2003
Studies in the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, Netherlands, 2001
MASTER CLASSES
José Maria Sánchez-Verdú (Sibelius-Academy) 2016
Mark Andre (Sibelius-Academy) 2014
Klaus Lang (UNM-festival, Reykjavik) 2012
Beat Furrer (Viitasaari) 2012
Jukka Tiensuu, Jouni Kaipainen (Sannäs) 2012
Wolfgang Rihm (Brücken-festival, Rostock) 2011
Sergei Newski (Viitasaari) 2011
Hanspeter Kyburz (Sibelius-Academy) 2010
Eivind Buene (UNM-festival, Helsinki) 2010
Brian Ferneyhough, Liza Lim, Hans Thomalla, Manos Tsangaris (Darmstadt International Summer Course) 2010
Magnus Lindberg, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka Tiensuu (Sannäs) 2010
Niels Rosing-Show, Kent Olofsson, Ivar Frounberg, Rytis Mazulis (Druskininkai) 2010