Tiina-Maija Koskela, soprano

Tiina-Maija Koskela started out studying the bassoon and began her vocal studies at the South Ostrobothnia Music Institute in 1997 under the tuition of Helena Porkka-Lintala. Spring 2008 she graduated from the Sibelius Academy’s Degree Programme in Vocal Music (Master of Music) under Seppo Ruohonen. Ms. Koskela has also studied lied and oratorio with teachers including Marjut Hannula, Pentti Kotiranta, Petteri Salomaa, Kristian Attila and Ilmo Ranta. She has also undertaken further studies on master classes with Norma Enns, Peter Berne, Tom Krause and Udo Reinemann. Tiina-Maija Koskela was chosen to study on an international master class during 2007–2008 with Udo Reinemann at the Brussels Royal Conservatory of Music.

Opera season 2008-2009 started with debut role in the Finnish National Opera. Koskela was heard in the Weber's opera Freischüt. Season 2009-2010 enclude the role of Mercedes in the Carmen opera by Bizet. Summer 2009 Koskela debuted at the Savonlinna Operafestival in the role of Kate Pinkerton, in Puccini's Madama Butterfly. There will be more perfomances during the summer 2010. One of the highligts of the summer 2010 will be a new opera premiere: "Taipaleenjoki" by Finnish Composer Ilkka Kuusisto at the Ilmajoki Summer Festival (Finland).

Tiina-Maija Koskela’s operatic roles as a mezzosoprano have included Cherubino in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Annio in La Clemenza di Tito, and the Cock, the Woodpecker and Frantik in Janácek’s the Cunning Little Vixen. In spring 2006, Tiina-Maija performed the role of Ramiro in Mozart’s opera La Finta Giardiniera (the Feigned Gardener Girl). The opera was a joint production by the Swedish Theatre and the Sibelius Academy and was directed by Ralf Långbacka. In October 2006, Ms. Koskela received praise for her role as Nancy in Britten’s opera Albert Herring, which was performed in the Almi Hall of the Finnish National Opera.

Ms. Koskela marked her concert debut in Dvorak’s Requiem at Kuhmo in the autumn of 2006, and at the end of the year she performed as a soloist with the Pori City Orchestra. In Spring 2007 and 2008 she was heard as soloist with the Sinfonia Lahti, Bach's St. Mathews Passion. In addition, Ms. Koskela also performed together with the pianist Riikka Koivula in the Taidekoti Kirpilä lied concert series in spring 2007. During 2008-2009 she was heard as a soloist in Jyväskylä, Tampere and Lappeenranta among others.

Tiina-Maija Koskela is the winner of the women’s section of the Lappeenranta Singing Competition 2008. In 2006, Ms. Koskela (née Hirvilammi) was among the finalists of the Lappeenranta Singing Competition 2006 and was awarded a special prize. In July 2006, she won second prize in the Timo Mustakallio Singing Competition in Savonlinna and joint third place in the Kangasniemi Singing Competition. In 2007, Tiina-Maija Koskela was awarded a scholarship by the Selim Eskelin Foundation and was also awarded a grant by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

AMONG FORTHCOMING PERFORMANCES 2010 as soprano:

Saturday 16 October,2010 Roma, Santo Spirito in Sassia Chapeli, world premiere: "Sei grande Karol" conductor/composer Ezio Monti, Filharmonia di Roma

Sunday 31 October,2010 at 3:30pm Kauniainen Festival (FI), Uusi Paviljonki

PAST PERFORMANCES 2008-2009:

Opera 2009-2010: FNO, Bizet Carmen, Mercedes

Opera Summer 2010: Premiere of the new opera by Ilkka Kuusisto (Ilmajoki)
Some photos: Ilmajoki Summer Festival

Opera Summer 2010: Savonlinna Opera Festival, Madama Butterfly

Sun & Mon 22 - 23 November 2009 Hyvinkää City Orchestra
Beethoven, Symphony nr 9
Sun 22.11. at 6 pm, Hyvinkääsali, Hyvinkää (FI)
Mon 23.11. at 7 pm, St. John's Church, Helsinki (guest performance)

Thu 24 September, Vaasa City Orchestra:"The Princess of Cyprus"

Tokyo, Musashino Civic Cultural Hall, Recital concert
1 September, 2009 (Juntunen - Koskela - Salomaa)

Tokyo Symphony Orchestra: Sibelius, "The Tempest", cond. Mr. Naoto Otomo
5 September, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall
6 September, Ryutopia Niigata
Soloists: Juntunen - Koskela - Salomaa - Hostikka

21 August 2009, Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Mozart: Requiem, cond. Vytautas Lukocius

The Mirjam Helin, International Singing Competition (Helsinki, Finland)

The Savonlinna Opera Festival: Puccini, Madama Butterfly, Kate Pinkerton

Sat 13 June at 11pm "Hiidenvuori", Iitti Music Festival, Night Lied concert with tenor Raimo Sirkiä

Sun 29 March, St. John's Church, Helsinki, Frigyes Hidas: Requiem, Kaartin Soittokunta

Wed 18 March, Lappeenranta City Orchestra cond. Tibor Bogányi, concert & Recording. Programme: Merikanto & Sibelius & Fagerudd & Mozart

28 Jan, Tapiola Culture Center, Kaartin Soittokunta, tenor Mika Nisula & mezzo Tiina-Maija Koskela

Lappeenranta Singing Competition 40th Anniversary Concert, mezzo Tiina-Maija Koskela, baritone Petteri Salomaa and tenor Raimo Sirkiä

Friday 5 December 2008, Tampere Filharmonia, songs by Kuula, cond. Jorma Panula

Saturday 1st November 2008, Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Mozart: Requiem, cond. Patrick Gallois

The Finnish National Opera: Weber, Freischûtz

12 July 2008, Seinäjoki Tango Festival (FI), Church concert, Recital with pianist Sanna-Kaisa Hirvilammi

Wed 28 May 2008 at 2:00pm, Sibelius-Academy, Concert Hall, Pohjoinen Rautatienkatu 9, 00100 Helsinki

20 March 2008, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Bach: St John’s Passion

16 March 2008, Seinäjoki City Orchestra, W.A. Mozart: Requiem

Lappeenranta Singing Competition 2008, 1st prize, women’s section
Read more & Listen, YLE Radio 1