Hi, I'm Anni - Finnish pianist and piano pedagogue.


2014 I completed my official piano studies as I graduated from the Folkwang University in Essen where I studied with prof. Henri Sigfridsson. The following year I finished my Master studies at the Sibelius-Academy under the guidance of Paavali Jumppanen and Hui-Ying Liu-Tawaststjerna, having completed my Bachelor studies with Tuija Hakkila and Ilmo Ranta in 2010. I also have a bachelor level degree from the Turku Music Academy where I studied with Antti Hotti. In addition to my degrees I spent one year as an exchange student at the Basel Academy of Music studying with prof. Adrian Oetiker. I feel really privileged having had the opportunity to study with these amazing musical personalities. Other important influences have been i.a. Olli Mustonen, Matti Raekallio, Andras Schiff, and Antti Siirala, among such chamber music giants as Alexander Rudin, Marko Ylönen, and Vladimir Mendelssohn.


I placed third in the biggest Finnish national piano competition in Jyväskylä in 2014 and have been rewarded twice at the Sibelius-Academy internal Helmi Vesa -competition. 2015 I received the 2nd prize at the Concurso Internacional de Orihuela in Spain. One year prior I received the Pro Musica -honorary grant and scholarship to attend the Mendelssohn-Academy in Leipzig. In addition I've received scholarships and grants from many Finnish foundations through the years which I'm truly grateful for.


I've performed with Sigyn Sinfonietta in my home city Turku and on our Baltic Tour, with the Jyväskylä Sinfonia, and with festival orchestras in Espoo and Joutseno. 2009 I was debutant of the Pianoaura-festival in Turku and 2015 I gave my debut recital at the Grosse Klaviermusik, junge PianistInnen -series in Duisburg, Germany. The following year I debuted at the Sibelius-Academy Young Artists of the Summer -series. I have also performed at the International Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival numerous times and at PianoEspoo and Turku Music Festivals, among various other venues in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and the United States. Besides more traditional repertoire I've performed new music and premiered works from composers such as Matti Heininen, Seppo Pohjola, Harri Wessman, and Markus Fagerudd. Some of my longest collaborations have been with dear friends violinist Sylvia Hurttia, soprano Kaisa Kraft, flutist Marianne Järvinen, and violist Harri Sippel. In the course of the past few years I've co-created many interesting projects such as Soiva Taidemuseo, Pianorekka, Kirkkovuosi soi!, Liedon kamarimusiikkipäivät etc. with the help of the Turku Cultural Committee, the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike), the Finnish Music Foundation (MES), Turun Seudun Osuuspankki foundation, and the Madetoja foundation.


Besides my freelance activities I accompany singers, violin, and viola students at the Turku Arts Academy. In addition to music I study economics and accounting at the Åbo Akademi University in Turku and in my free time I practise yoga, walk long walks, and lift relatively heavy weights ;) I received my yoga teacher credentials (RYT-200) from Hima Happiness in Helsinki 2015 where our main teacher was Joanna Koskinen from ASANA Helsinki.


Don't hesitate to ask for my help if you'd like to improve your piano skills, or if you're just starting out. I've gathered lots of teaching experience at the conservatories in Turku and Kuopio, the Savonia University of Applied Sciences, the Finnish-Swedish Arkipelag Music Institute, my one-year-long excursion to Jokilaaksot Music Institute in Northern Ostrobothnia and at the Iitti music course. If you're searching for an accompanist, chamber musician, or orchestral pianist I have years of experience working with singers & instrumentalists at the Turku Music Academy, and as freelance pianist at the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra. I've also given personal and group yoga instruction on demand, having already had the opportunity to teach musicians privately and in collaboration with Turku Music Festival and Sibelius-Academy masterclasses.


I'm married to composer Matti Heininen - please join both of us on our journeys.