Jyrki Lasonpalo

Concertmaster

Jyrki Lasonpalo, concertmaster of the Mikkeli City Orchestra, began playing the violin at the age of four under the guidance of his father. He later studied at the Sibelius Academy’s Junior Department and Soloist Department, with teachers including Pekka Kari, Kaija Saarikettu, and Igor Bezrodnyi. He completed his studies at the Sibelius Academy with top marks in his final diploma examination in 1990.

Lasonpalo made his solo debut with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1979. He played first violin in the Tapiola Sinfonietta from 1987 to 1993, and later served as alternating concertmaster of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra before becoming concertmaster of the Mikkeli City Orchestra in autumn 2012. From 2004 to 2005, he worked as alternating first concertmaster of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a member of the Finnish Chamber Orchestra and has also served as its concertmaster. As a soloist, Lasonpalo has performed with several Finnish orchestras.

As a chamber musician, Lasonpalo has performed in the United States, Russia, the Nordic countries, and many Central European countries, including at the Musikverein in Vienna, as well as at Finland’s most prominent music festivals. He has recorded chamber music for the BIS label.

Lasonpalo has studied conducting with Professor Jorma Panula and conductor Atso Almila. He has worked as a conductor with the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Turku Ensemble, Sigyn Sinfonietta, Mikkeli City Orchestra, Kuopio City Orchestra, Sinfonia Lahti Chamber Ensemble, the Sibelius Academy Chamber Orchestra, and the Lahti Chamber Orchestra, which he founded in 2007.

In his free time, Jyrki is an enthusiastic ice hockey player and enjoys spending time at his cottage.