Chorus master

Hannu Norjanen graduated from the Sibelius Academy in 1990 with degrees in organ, choral conducting and orchestral conducting, all with distinction. He has acted as the chief conductor of Lappeenranta City Orchestra and Vaasa City Orchestra in 1998-2001 and 1999-2005, respectively. He has conducted most of the major Finnish orchestras after his graduation, and visits regularly several European countries conducting both orchestras and choirs.

Mr. Norjanen has also worked at the ‘Finnish National Opera’ where he conducted operas such as La Boheme, Falstaff, La Traviata, Othello and Tosca. He regularly conducts large works for choir and orchestra and teaches conducting in the Sibelius Academy.

Hannu Norjanen is a widely experienced choir conductor. He served as conductor of the Radio Chamber Choir, and he is the artistic director of the Tapiola Chamber Choir and the conductor of the boys' choir Cantores Minores, in addition to his duties at the Helsinki Philharmonic Chorus.

Assistant director

Jukka Jokitalo started his musical studies in the city of Kotka with violin and piano as his instruments. At the Sibelius Academy he studied church music and choral conducting under professor Matti Hyökki's supervision. Jokitalo did his conducting diploma at the Sibelius Academy in January 2007.

Jokitalo is the music director of the Finnair Singers, Metsoforte Student Choir, Kallion Laulu mixed choir, Incanto Vocal Ensemble and Refugium musicum Chamber Orchestra. He works as an assistant conductor in the Academic Choral Society and the Helsinki Philharmonic Chorus. As a singer he performs with Helsinki Chamber Choir and the award-winning EMO Ensemble.