Kaija Saarikettu

Kaija Saarikettu is a renowned Finnish violinist and professor, born on May 17, 1957, in Ekenäs, Finland. She graduated from the prestigious Sibelius Academy in 1977 and further honed her skills studying under Endre Wolf in Sweden. Saarikettu made her mark early by sharing first prize at the Kuopio Violin Competition in 1980 and reaching the finals of the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition. She has had a distinguished teaching career at the Sibelius Academy, becoming a professor of violin and chamber music, and also held a professorship at Edsbergs Musikinstitut in Sweden. Beyond teaching, she has performed extensively as a soloist internationally—including in Finland, Russia, the USA, and Lithuania—and is known for premiering works by several notable Finnish composers.

Saarikettu is also recognized for her prolific recording career, having released nine albums, mainly on the Finlandia label, featuring the complete violin works of Jean Sibelius as well as compositions by Einar Englund, Paavo Heininen, and others. In addition to performing and teaching, she serves as the artistic director of the Kaustinen Chamber Music Week and is active as a composer and conductor. Her contributions have significantly enriched Finnish classical music, particularly in championing contemporary Finnish violin repertoire.

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