The Sibelius Academy (Finnish: Taideyliopisto Sibelius-Akatemia, Swedish: Konstuniversitetets Sibelius-Akademi) is part of the University of the Arts Helsinki and 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 with roughly 1,700 enrolled students.
The Sibelius Academy is one of the organizers of the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition held every five years in Helsinki.
The academy was founded in 1882 by Martin Wegelius as Helsingfors musikinstitut ("Helsinki Music Institute") and renamed Sibelius-Akatemia in 1939 to honour its own former student and Finland's most celebrated composer Jean Sibelius. In 2013, the academy merged with two formerly independent universities, Theatre Academy Helsinki and Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki, to form the University of the Arts Helsinki.
The primary degree at the Sibelius Academy is the Master of Music (MMus) degree. The school also offers postgraduate degrees with artistic and research options. The postgraduate degrees are the Licentiate of Arts in Music Lic.A. (Mus.) and the doctoral degree of Doctor of Arts in Music D.A. (Mus.)
The Academy offers the following degree programmes:
Degree Programme in Church MusicDegree Programme in Composition and Music TheoryDegree Programme in Folk MusicDegree Programme in Jazz MusicDegree Programme in Orchestral and Choral ConductingDegree Programme in Music EducationDegree Programme in Music TechnologyDegree Programme in Music PerformanceDegree Programme in Vocal MusicDegree Programme in Arts ManagementKalevi AhoErik BergmanPaavo Heininen, former professor of compositionTuomas KantelinenPekka Kostiainen, composer and choral conductorMagnus LindbergJaakko MäntyjärviErkki Melartin, student/composer/professor/Director Helsinki ConservatoryVeli-Matti Puumala, professor of compositionEinojuhani RautavaaraKaija SaariahoAulis SallinenJean SibeliusLeo Funtek (1885–1965), violinist, conductor, arranger and music professorPietari Inkinen, violinist, and conductorSasha Mäkilä, assistant conductor of The Cleveland OrchestraSakari Oramo, conductor of the BBC Symphony OrchestraJorma Panula, conductor, composer and teacherEsa-Pekka Salonen, conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra, former conductor of the LA Philharmonic, composerJukka-Pekka Saraste, former conductor of the Toronto Symphony OrchestraDavid Searle, orchestral conductor of The Catholic University of America Symphony OrchestraLeif Segerstam, conductor of the Turku Philharmonic OrchestraUlf Söderblom, Principal Conductor of the Finnish National Opera (1973–1993), taught at the Sibelius Academy and conducted its orchestras from 1965 to 1968Osmo Vänskä, music director of the Minnesota OrchestraJuhani Aaltonen, Finnish jazz saxophonist and flautistLinda Brava, violinistGerard Le Feuvre, cellist and founder of the Kings Chamber OrchestraSimon Ghraichy (1985), pianistTuija Hakkila (1959), pianistKari Kriikku, clarinetistMatias Kupiainen, lead guitarist of the band StratovariusPekka Kuusisto, violinistRisto Lauriala, pianistMax Lilja, cellist in the band Hevein and founding member of ApocalypticaHui-Ying Liu-Tawaststjerna, pianistPaavo Lötjönen, cellist in the band ApocalypticaAntero Manninen, former cellist in the band Apocalyptica and cellist in the Helsinki Philharmonic OrchestraOlli Mustonen, pianist and composerArto Noras, cellist, student of Paul TortelierMikko Paananen, known as Mige, bassist of the band HIMMartti Pokela, founder of the folk music department and former professor of the kanteleAku Raski aka Huoratron, electro house and chiptune musicianMartti Rousi, cello teacherAntti Siirala, winner of the Dublin, Leeds, and Beethoven international piano competitionsEicca Toppinen, cellist in the band ApocalypticaPerttu Kivilaakso, cellist in the band Apocalyptica, former Helsinki Philharmonic OrchestraKim Borg, bassMonica Groop, mezzo-sopranoTommi Hakala, baritone, winner of the 2003 Cardiff Singer of the World CompetitionJorma Hynninen, baritoneSoile Isokoski, sopranoTopi Lehtipuu, tenorPeter Lindroos, tenor (was both a student and teacher at the academy)Karita Mattila, soprano, winner of the 1983 Cardiff Singer of the World CompetitionJyrki Niskanen, tenorArja Saijonmaa, singerPetteri Salomaa, bass-baritoneTarja Turunen, soprano, former singer of the symphonic metal band NightwishSoila Sariola, singer of the double platinum awarded and multiple gold winning vocal ensemble RajatonMatti Salminen, bassPaula Vesala, singer of PMMPMartti Wallén, opera singer
