Awards and nominations

Matthew Whittall and Lotta Wennäkoski were awarded Composer of the Year titles in the classical music category at the Finnish Music Publishers’ gala on 5 September. The prize went to Whittall for his large-scale Joy for organ and orchestra that delighted audience and critics alike at its recent premiere by the Finnish RSO. Wennäkoski received her prize for her string quartet Flickereth. Lotta’s violin concerto Prosoidia has been nominated as the 2024 candidate for the Fondation Prince Pierre Music Composition Prize. 
A CD of string quartets by Seppo Pohjola has been nominated for a Gramophone Award (Contemporary). His previous release of string quartets also won critical acclaim. The Finnish Kantele Association has paid tribute to Juhani Nuorvala for his active and inspiring work to promote music for the Finnish folk instrument, the kantele.
Aulis Sallinen will turn 90 on 9 April 2025. His long and internationally acclaimed career was acknowledged when he received the Finnish Music Publishers’ Honorary Award on 5 September.