The Finnish composer Olli Virtaperko (born 1973) has one of his generation’s most original voices. His output provides a picture of a present-day composer, whose musical language uses elements from a vast variety of aesthetic and stylistic sources, whilst remaining clearly recognizable. Although he underwent classical training as a composer at Edinburgh University (UK) and at the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki, Finland, graduated 2005), Virtaperko’s musical interests have always led him to seek inspiration from a wide range of musical influences outside the classical-romantic tradition – such as early Renaissance instrumental polyphony, contemporary post-rock, minimalism, and progressive rock and jazz. Virtaperko’s breakthrough as a composer came with his first work for full symphony orchestra, Kuru (Ravine, 2009), which was soon followed by his equally praised Five Words of Calvino, a double concerto for cello, accordion and symphony orchestra (2010). Virtaperko’s orchestral music is characterized by its imaginative orchestration, structural sensitivity and idiomatic use of instruments. Virtaperko was a Gaudeamus composition competition finalist in 2004 and the joint winner of Yo! Opera’s “Contemporary European Anthem” orchestral competition in the same year. His music has since been performed in most European countries, the United States, Russia and Australia by, amongst others, the Radio Symphony Orchestras of the Netherlands and Finland, the Metropole Orchestra (the Netherlands), Windkraft Tirol (Austria) and the Lahti Sinfonia (Finland). As an active musician himself, Virtaperko has performed early music, crossover, rock and jazz. Since 1995, he has been playing Baroque cello with his acclaimed group Ensemble Ambrosius which performs contemporary music using Baroque instruments. The ensemble’s debut CD, The Zappa Album (BIS Records, 2000) received praise both from Zappa fans and the critics. Using the similarities of performance practices in rock and Baroque music, Virtaperko’s group was described as having been able to “add a new dimension to Zappa’s legacy” (Wall Street Journal, January 2004) as well as providing “a uniquely compelling listening experience” (The Observer, January 2001). Along with directing Ensemble Ambrosius and studying composition, Virtaperko was a singer in Ultra Bra (1995-2001), the most successful Finnish rock band at the turn of a millennium with record sales exceeding several hundred thousand records. Since Ultra Bra, Virtaperko has continued his work with Ensemble Ambrosius and toured as a cellist-composer with the European Jazz Orchestra (2003).