Lorenzo Passerini to Continue as Chief Conductor of Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Andrea Portera to Compose New Music for the Orchestra

According to Eeva-Maria Kopp, General Manager of Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Lorenzo Passerini has brought a unique energy and precision to the orchestra's playing, reaching all the way to the last row of Encore Hall.

"He is an exceptionally collaborative and highly motivated artistic partner whose wealth of ideas shows no signs of diminishing. With this contract extension, we can continue our exciting artistic development, and Lorenzo still has much to contribute to that journey."

Kopp also values Passerini's artistic vision. According to her, he has a remarkable ability to design imaginative and versatile concert programmes.

"In his hands, both the great classics and works rarely heard in Finland come together in programmes that are artistically balanced, engaging, and often surprising. I have learned to trust that the programmes Lorenzo creates always work. Even when the repertoire may feel less familiar, audiences can count on leaving the concert deeply impressed."

Having served as Chief Conductor of the orchestra since autumn 2024, Lorenzo Passerini will continue to conduct six concerts annually in Jyväskylä during his two-year extension, as he has done thus far. He is delighted to continue his collaboration with Jyväskylä Sinfonia.

According to Passerini, building an orchestra's sound and artistic identity requires time, trust, and a great deal of work.

"The opportunity to make high-quality music with these musicians, with joy and passion, is a dream come true for me", he says.

World Premieres of Portera's Music to Be Heard in Jyväskylä

From January 2027 to May 2028, Jyväskylä Sinfonia will also deepen its collaboration with the award-winning Italian composer Andrea Portera through a composer-in-residence programme.

Portera's distinctive and highly expressive music has been performed widely around the world, and audiences in Jyväskylä have already had a chance to hear some of his work. During his residency, at least two world premieres of his compositions will be presented in Jyväskylä, alongside performances of two of his existing works.

Extension and Residency to Be Celebrated After the 24 September Concert

The extension of Lorenzo Passerini's tenure as Chief Conductor and Andrea Portera's composer residency will be celebrated right after Jyväskylä Sinfonia's Double Brahms concert on 24 September. The event will take place in the lower foyer of the Paviljonki at 8 p.m.

During the celebration, Passerini will share his thoughts on the orchestra's future and perform on the trombone. Sparkling wine will be available for purchase, and all concertgoers are warmly welcome to attend.