Vivo Symphony Orchestra 40 Years: Primal Force

Tami Pohjola (b. 1996) is among the leading Finnish violinists of his generation.

He has performed as a soloist with nearly all Finnish orchestras as well as internationally with ensembles such as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, and Manchester’s Hallé Orchestra. He has collaborated with renowned conductors including Jörg Widmann, Nicholas Collon, Sakari Oramo, Mikko Franck, Tarmo Peltokoski, Klaus Mäkelä, and Kristian Sallinen.

Pohjola is also an active chamber musician. He has appeared at major chamber music festivals and performed alongside distinguished artists such as Miriam Fried, Janine Jansen, Krzysztof Chorzelski, Ralf Gothóni, and Arto Noras. He studied at the European Chamber Music Academy (ECMA) and served as one of the Artistic Directors of the Helsinki Chamber Summer Festival from 2017 to 2021.

He has won several national and international competitions, including the International Dinu Lipatti Violin Competition in 2019 and the Kuopio Violin Competition in 2015. He also won the International Young Musician competition in Estonia in 2009.

Tami Pohjola performs on a 1754 Guadagnini violin on loan from the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Mikko Franck (b. 1979) began his conducting career at the age of 17 and has since worked with major orchestras and opera houses around the world.

From 2002 to 2007, Franck served as Music Director of the Belgian National Orchestra. In 2006, he became Chief Conductor of the Finnish National Opera, and the following year was also appointed Artistic Director, a position he held until 2013.

In September 2015, Franck was appointed Music Director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, a role he held until the end of 2025.

Franck began his career in Vivo as a violinist and concluded his time with the orchestra as its Artistic Director from 1997 to 1999. He is also Vivo’s first patron, and his significant €75,000 donation helped secure the continuation of the orchestra’s activities at the end of 2022.

Vivo Symphony Orchestra is Finland’s only nationwide youth symphony orchestra. Its musicians are aged 14–25 and come from around 50 different localities across Finland. Players are selected through annual auditions.

Most members are talented secondary school or upper secondary students, as well as full-time music students. Vivo provides them with the opportunity to perform under professional conductors and musicians, and to gain skills required for careers in music. Participation in the orchestra is free of charge for the musicians.

Vivo was founded in 1986. The idea originated from young musicians returning from a music camp who wanted to continue playing together year-round. Conductor Kari Tikka supported the idea and envisioned a full symphony orchestra. Vivo’s debut concert in Helsinki took place at the Old Student House in early spring 1989, and since then the orchestra has performed regularly across Finland.

Following Kari Tikka, Artistic Directors have included Mikko Franck (1997–1999), Tibor Bogányi (2000–2002), Esa Heikkilä (2003–2016), and Erkki Lasonpalo (2019–2025). Elisar Riddelin will serve as Artistic Director for the 2026–2028 season.

Vivo’s activities are made possible by the generous support of the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation through the Future Orchestra initiative.