Sami Junnonen

"This flutist owns the best qualities: sound, musicality, technique, style for the whole repertoire, including baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary music: he is an extraordinary interpreter."

Serge Saitta
Les Arts Florissants, solo flutist
Professeur at the" Conservatoire Superieur de Musique" (Geneva)
Lecturer for baroque music interpretation at the Juilliard School of Music and Drama (New York)

Sami Junnonen (born in Finland, 1977) is considered as one of the most personal and significant flutists of his own generation. He studied flute in Sibelius Academy (Degree for Performing Arts) and gained the highest possible credits for his diploma in flute in 2007. One year later, he graduated as Master of Arts. In addition, he has studied in National Conservatoire de Musique de Lyon and The Royal Conservatory of Copenhagen. He has participated in several master classes in Europe. Sibelius-Academy will produce his so-called "Debut Recital" in their prestigious concert series in Finland 2012.

After winning the first prize in Lahti National Woodwind Competition 1994 Junnonen has established his career in Finland by giving concerts and recitals and performing as a soloist with The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonia, Sinfonia da Camera Finlandia, Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra, Pori Sinfonietta, Camerata Finlandia and Chamber Orchestra Credo. Other examples of solo career: Nordens Talent Scandinavia 1996 produced by The Finnish Broadcasting Company, EBU 1996, Profile produced by Classic FM, The National Finnish Flute Convention 2004, prestigious festivals and concert series in Finland such as Iitin musiikkijuhlat, art. dir. Laura Mikkola, ”Sääksmäki Soi”-festival, art. dir. Jukka Iisakkila and ”Viitasaaren Aika”, art. dir. Perttu Haapanen. He has recorded for The Finnish Radio Broadcasting Company, also first performances. Junnonen performs also on the recordings produced by Ondine, Naxos, Sony BMG and The Finnish Flute Association. He is an artist of Music Nova Agency and a member of The Finnish Soloist Society. Many cultural foundations and societies have awarded him with monetary prizes.

Junnonen has had success in international competitions and auditions. The latest prizes are from The 12. International Friedrich Kuhlau Flute Competition in Germany 2007, The Nordic Soloist Competition in Norway 2008 and The International Music Competition "Città di Padova" in Italy both in 2009 (solo recital) and 2010 (soloist with orchestra). He has given concerts and master classes in most of the European countries, Asia, U.S.A. and both South and Central America.

Junnonen has worked in Tampere Philharmonia, Pori Sinfonietta and Chamber Orchestra Domaine of London as the principal flutist. He also works actively as a composer and an arranger. Junnonen plays on 18 and 14 carat Muramatsu gold flutes.