Photo: Jonas Kukkonen

Minna Pensola

Violinist Minna Pensola is known as an intense performer, invigorating soloist and energetic orchestra leader.  As an inspiring fellow musician and teacher she is a regular guest at many international chamber music festivals.

Active and close relationship with Finnish composers have produced many works dedicated to her.  The latest and upcoming premieres include chamber works by Seppo Kantonen and Olli Mustonen (Kuhmo Chamber Music), Osmo-Tapio Räihälä’s Concerto for Two Violins (Antti Tikkanen & Lappeenranta City Orchestra) and Nicola Campogrande’s Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra (Meta4 & Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano).

Pensola is a member of the award winning string quartet Meta4, and is one of the tutors and artistic directors of the European Chamber Music Academy (ECMA).

Together with her spouse, violinist Antti Tikkanen, she is also the artistic director of Kuhmo Chamber Music as well as PuKamaChamber concert series.

From 2019 to 2024, Pensola served as the artistic partner of the Joensuu City Orchestra and as the artistic director of the Sysmä Summer Concert from 2006 to 2012.  She has also established relaxed and popular ”Klasariklubi” – club evenings combining a casual bar night and classical live music in her hometown Helsinki.

Her own studies started at the Helsinki Conservatory, continued at the Sibelius Academy and finally finished at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Zürich and the European Chamber Music Academy (ECMA).  Important guides on that journey include Kaija Saarikettu, Ralf Gothoni, Ana Chumachenko, Josef Rissin, Hatto Beyerle, Johannes Meissl as well as countless inspiring colleagues along the way.

Minna Pensola’s instrument is a violin built by Elina Kaljunen in Helsinki in 2025.

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.