Photo: Maarit Kytöharju

Minna Pensola

Minna Pensola plays in the string quartet Meta4, and has appeared as soloist with almost all the Finnish orchestras. In 2008 Pensola founded the Klasariklubi in Helsinki, which combines the leisurely atmosphere of a bar with an opportunity to hear live classical music. She also established the PuKama chamber music association, a joint project between her and her husband, the violinist Antti Tikkanen, one intended to liven up the chamber music scene in the Finnish capital.

Minna Pensola teaches violin at the Sibelius Academy and was Artistic Director of the Sysmän Suvisoitto festival from 2006 to 2012. She attended the Zurich Music Academy and the European Chamber Music Academy. Here main teachers have included Jerzy Blaszkiewicz, Leonid Mordkovich, Kaija Saarikettu, Ana Chumachenko, Josef Rissin and Hatto Beyrle.

Minna Pensola’s instrument is a Carlo Bergonzi violin from 1732, owned by the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation.

Offstage the swinging up-tempo is maintained by two daughters and two cats.

In October of 2021 Pensola and her husband Antti Tikkanen were chosen as Kuhmo Chamber Music’s new artistic directors.