Markku Luolajan-Mikkola
Encyclopedia
Markku Luolajan-Mikkola is a Finnish baroque cellist and viol
player. Born in Helsinki, he studied cello with Arto Noras
at the Sibelius Academy
, where he received his diploma in 1983. Later, an interest in baroque music led him to summer courses wirh Laurence Dreyfus
, and afterwards he went on to Royal Conservatory of The Hague
where he studied viola da gamba with Wieland Kuijken
and baroque cello with Jaap ter Linden
, receiving postgraduate diplomas in viola da gamba and baroque cello in 1992.
He is a founding member of the celebrated Phantasm
viol quartet the Norwegian baroque ensemble Bergen Barokk
and the Finnish Baroque Orchestra. His engagements include appearances in Europe, America and Asia. The Finnish Broadcast Company honored him as "Musical act of the year 2003" which was awarded after his "Gambaa!" recitals series of French baroque music, giving more than 50 recitals with different programs . He has performed recitals with all Bach
cello suites and has commissioned contemporary music for the bass viol, performing the premieres of all of them.
His more than 40 solo and chamber music recordings (stand out his solo parts of Marais, Forqueray
and Couperin
are available on the Alba, Avie, BIS, Linn, Simax, Channel Classics
, Decca, GMN and Toccata Classics labels.
Gramophone Awards -of the year and editor's choice- (with Phantasm
), Emma Award ("Finnish Grammy"), Diapason d'or, and Chod du Monde de la Musique, BBC Music Magazine, Rondo Magazine, Best Recordings of the Year-Helsingin Sanomat, MusicWeb International, are some of his awards.
He teaches baroque cello and viola da gamba at the Sibelius Academy
, and is the artistic leader of the Finnish Baroque Orchestra and the Vantaa Music Festival. In 2002 he founded Lu-Mi Strings Ltd, a company which produces fine hand made baroque instruments in Beijing. He is currently enjoying a 3 years artistic grant, considered one of the most important in his country.
Viol
The viol is any one of a family of bowed, fretted and stringed musical instruments developed in the mid-late 15th century and used primarily in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The family is related to and descends primarily from the Renaissance vihuela, a plucked instrument that preceded the...
player. Born in Helsinki, he studied cello with Arto Noras
Arto Noras
Arto Noras is a Finnish cellist who started his studies in Sibelius Academy at age of 8 years. His teacher was Yrjö Selin...
at the Sibelius Academy
Sibelius Academy
The Sibelius Academy is a university-level music school which operates in Helsinki and Kuopio, Finland. It also has an adult education centre in Järvenpää and a training centre in Seinäjoki. The Academy is the only music university in Finland. It is among the biggest European music universities...
, where he received his diploma in 1983. Later, an interest in baroque music led him to summer courses wirh Laurence Dreyfus
Laurence Dreyfus
Laurence Dreyfus, FBA is a Bach scholar. He was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and attended Cherry Hill High School West in New Jersey. He earned a B.A., Yeshiva U., studied cello under Leonard Rose, at the Juilliard School, later reading Musicology at the Columbia University...
, and afterwards he went on to Royal Conservatory of The Hague
Royal Conservatory of The Hague
The Royal Conservatory of The Hague is a conservatorium of music, providing higher education in music and dance, it is located in The Hague, Netherlands.-The Conservatory:...
where he studied viola da gamba with Wieland Kuijken
Wieland Kuijken
Wieland Kuijken is a Belgian musician and player of the viola da gamba and baroque cello.Kuijken started his career in music in 1952 with the Brussels Alariusensemble of which he formed part until 1972...
and baroque cello with Jaap ter Linden
Jaap ter Linden
Jaap ter Linden is a Dutch cellist, viol player and conductor. He specialises in performance of baroque and classical music on authentic instruments....
, receiving postgraduate diplomas in viola da gamba and baroque cello in 1992.
He is a founding member of the celebrated Phantasm
Phantasm
Phantasm may refer to:In comics:* Phantasm , a short-lived member of the New Teen TitansIn film:* Don Coscarelli's Phantasm series** Phantasm , a 1979 horror film** Phantasm II...
viol quartet the Norwegian baroque ensemble Bergen Barokk
Bergen Barokk
Bergen Barokk is a Norwegian music ensemble that specializes in 17th and 18th century Western European music. They are supported by the city of Bergen and the Norwegian Cultural Council...
and the Finnish Baroque Orchestra. His engagements include appearances in Europe, America and Asia. The Finnish Broadcast Company honored him as "Musical act of the year 2003" which was awarded after his "Gambaa!" recitals series of French baroque music, giving more than 50 recitals with different programs . He has performed recitals with all Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
cello suites and has commissioned contemporary music for the bass viol, performing the premieres of all of them.
His more than 40 solo and chamber music recordings (stand out his solo parts of Marais, Forqueray
Forqueray
Forqueray, also spelled Forcroy, is the name of a French family of musicians.*Antoine Forqueray *Michel Forqueray *Jean-Baptiste Forqueray...
and Couperin
Couperin
The Couperin family were a musical dynasty of professional composers and performers. They were the most prolific family in French musical history, active during the Baroque era...
are available on the Alba, Avie, BIS, Linn, Simax, Channel Classics
Channel Classics Records
Channel Classics Records is a record label from the Netherlands, specializing in classical music. The managing director and producer is C. Jared Sacks, who grew up in Boston. Sacks was schooled as a professional horn player at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam...
, Decca, GMN and Toccata Classics labels.
Gramophone Awards -of the year and editor's choice- (with Phantasm
Phantasm
Phantasm may refer to:In comics:* Phantasm , a short-lived member of the New Teen TitansIn film:* Don Coscarelli's Phantasm series** Phantasm , a 1979 horror film** Phantasm II...
), Emma Award ("Finnish Grammy"), Diapason d'or, and Chod du Monde de la Musique, BBC Music Magazine, Rondo Magazine, Best Recordings of the Year-Helsingin Sanomat, MusicWeb International, are some of his awards.
He teaches baroque cello and viola da gamba at the Sibelius Academy
Sibelius Academy
The Sibelius Academy is a university-level music school which operates in Helsinki and Kuopio, Finland. It also has an adult education centre in Järvenpää and a training centre in Seinäjoki. The Academy is the only music university in Finland. It is among the biggest European music universities...
, and is the artistic leader of the Finnish Baroque Orchestra and the Vantaa Music Festival. In 2002 he founded Lu-Mi Strings Ltd, a company which produces fine hand made baroque instruments in Beijing. He is currently enjoying a 3 years artistic grant, considered one of the most important in his country.