Osmo Vänskä

Osmo Vänskä is an internationally acclaimed conductor known for his compelling interpretation of a vast repertoire and commanding presence on the podium. He is currently Conductor Laureate of both the Lahti Symphony and Minnesota Orchestras, and Honorary Conductor of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.

Born in Sääminki, Finland, on February 28th, 1953, Vänska began his musical career as a clarinetist, spending five years each with the Turku and Helsinki Philharmonics, before turning his attention to conducting. Like many of his contemporaries Vänskä studied at Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy, and in 1982 he won the International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors.

His first major conducting role came with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, initially as Principal Guest Conductor in 1985, and subsequently as Chief Conductor in 1988. During his tenure Vänskä recorded extensively with the orchestra including works by many Nordic composers, perhaps most notable amongst them, his complete cycle of Sibelius Symphonies. In 2008, after twenty years in the role, Vänskä stood down as Chief Conductor, assuming the title of Conductor Laureate.

Vänskä served as Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra from 2003 until concluding his tenure at the close of the 2021 - 2022 season. He is credited with enhancing the orchestra’s repertoire and having a lasting impact on the state’s cultural life. Amongst the highlights of his almost two decades in Minnesota, Vänskä led the orchestra on five major European tours, appeared at the BBC Proms in 2018, and gave multiple performances at prestigious US venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall and Chicago’s Symphony Center. His recordings with the orchestra further enhanced his already distinguished discography, receiving critical acclaim for works including complete cycles of Beethoven, Mahler and Sibelius Symphonies - the latter of which also earned him a Grammy Award. As with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Vänskä’s length of service and commitment to the Minnesota Orchestra was rewarded with his being made Conductor Laureate.

In addition to the long spells with the two aforementioned orchestras, Vänskä also served as Chief Conductor of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra (1993 - 1996) and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (1996 - 2002), and Music Director of the Seoul Philharmonic (2019 - 2002). He remains highly sought-after as a guest conductor, appearing with almost all of the major European and North American orchestras throughout his career, and is decorated with multiple awards and distinctions including honorary doctorates from the Curtis Institute of Music and the universities of Glasgow and Minnesota, as well as the Pro Finlandia Medal.