Elina Vähälä

Elina Vähälä (b. 1975) is one of the foremost international stars among Finnish violinists. For decades, she has been recognised as a musician whose vibrant artistry and unique interpretations consistently captivate listeners. Her playing is characterised by a beautiful tone and consistently high quality – whether performing as an orchestral soloist or in a chamber music ensemble. Vähälä has championed Finnish musical excellence by regularly giving concerts, in particular in the US, but also in various parts of Asia and South America. 

In her wide-ranging repertoire, she has always strived to balance beloved classics with fascinating new contemporary works. Alongside the core classical-romantic concertos by Joseph Haydn, Jean Sibelius, Johannes Brahms, and Karol Szymanowski, Vähälä devotes herself reverently to contemporary music. She has premiered concertos by Kalevi Aho, Aulis Sallinen, and Jaakko Kuusisto, and has recorded them as well. She was the first artist in the Nordic Region to perform John Corigliano's The Red Violin. Vähälä is also known as a chamber musician at both Finnish and international festivals. She has even recorded chamber music, including with the Dutch double bassist Niek de Groot. 

As a violinist, Vähälä sees herself as part of a continuum that spans centuries. It is important to her to pave the way and create opportunities for future generations – both as an educator and as a festival director. She is one of the founders of the Stråkakademin (String Academy), established in 2009, aimed at exceptionally talented children and young people. Since 2019, she has been a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Vähälä has also sat on the jury for several national and international music competitions and, in 2022, took over as Artistic Director of the Naantali Music Festival, which has run continuously for over 40 years.