Paavo Pohjola Belongs to Finland’s Most Renowned Musical Family

Paavo Pohjola, a noted educator of many Finnish musicians, believes that everything starts from chamber music. Over the years, his teaching has influenced a multitude of classical music players who have attended his chamber music courses at the Sibelius Academy, where he worked as a chamber music lecturer from 1982 to 1997. Despite his retirement, he continued as a docent and lesson teacher.

According to Pohjola, his actual career at the Sibelius Academy only started with the onset of Kunkkula’s courses, which he led. These were held at Kallio-Kuninkala, the current course center of the Sibelius Academy in Järvenpää, part of the University of the Arts. This is where he organized chamber music courses for Sibelius Academy students, leading to a new generation of musicians with a keen interest and skill in chamber music.

Pohjola himself has always been interested in chamber music, but initially, he aimed for a different career. Beginning as a violinist, he eventually transitioned into teaching. He worked as a concertmaster in several orchestras throughout his career, including the Stockholm Orchestra, Finland’s Radio Symphony Orchestra, and in Germany in Hannover and Heidelberg.

The Pohjola family has been integral to Finnish music life, with multiple generations contributing to the musical scene. When asked about the secret to their musical prowess, Pohjola suggested it might be a combination of natural sensitivity to musical tones and the phrasing of the language.

In his early years, Pohjola did receive formal training as a violinist, but he considers himself somewhat self-taught. He studied in Vienna at the recommendation of a friend where he underwent a strict technical school. His first concert at the Sibelius Academy in 1955 laid the foundation for his later career as a violinist.

However, hand problems eventually led him to change paths. He then began a teaching career, first at the Espoo Music College before moving to the Sibelius Academy as a chamber music lecturer. There, he taught numerous generations of musicians the art of chamber music, instilling in them the importance of listening, adapting, and understanding their role within the ensemble.

Born in 1934 in Seinäjoki, Pohjola was a violin lecturer at the Espoo Music Academy and artistic director of the Espoo Chamber Orchestra from 1974 to 1983. He served as a chamber music lecturer at the Sibelius Academy from 1982 to 1997 and has been a docent and lesson teacher since 1997. He was also a visiting professor at Malmö University of Music from 1997 to 2003. He lives in Helsinki with his wife, Outi Ahava, and has six children and several grandchildren. He turned 90 on February 22, 2024.