He has received several contract extensions, the latest running through 2022. The Minnesota Orchestra has remained at the center of Vänskä's musical life, and his personal life as well: he married Erin Keefe, the orchestra's concertmaster, in 2015. He became the orchestra's chief conductor in 1988, holding the post until 2008, beginning his prolific recording career there.ĭuring this 20-year stint, he held several other posts as well: chief conductor of the Iceland Symphony (1993-1996), principal conductor of BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (1996-2002), and music director of the Minnesota Orchestra, from 2003. He won the 1982 Besançon Young Conductors Competition, and thereafter, turned largely to conducting, landing his first major post in 1985 when he was appointed the guest conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra. From 1977-1982, Vänskä was the co-principal clarinetist for the Helsinki Philharmonic. While there, he made his conducting debut (in 1975), garnering approval from both critics and the public alike. For the first part of his career, Vänskä was an orchestral clarinetist, first with the Turku Philharmonic from 1971-1976. Though he studied conducting under Jorma Panula at the Sibelius Academy of Music in Helsinki, his initial focus there was the clarinet. Vänskä was born in Sääminki, Finland, on February 28, 1953. He excels in the music of Sibelius and other Scandinavian composers, but also Beethoven, Mahler, and other continental European music of various periods. Conductor Osmo Vänskä has been the longtime music director of the Minnesota Orchestra, with a vigorous conducting career in Europe and Asia as well.
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