Anna-Maria Helsing

Anna-Maria Helsing qualified as a violin teacher at the Pietarsaari Conservatory before continuing her studies at the Bydgoszcz Music Academy in Poland, completing her diploma in 2000. Last year she obtained a conducting diploma from the Sibelius Academy after studying with Leif Segerstam, Atso Almila and others. She has taken part in many international violin competitions, winning the first prize in, among others, that in 20th century music held in Warsaw in 1999. She has taught the violin at the Pietarsaari Region Music Institute and, since autumn 2007, the town’s University of Applied Sciences. For the past few years she has been Artistic Director of the Pietarsaari Orchestra and the Wegelius Chamber Strings. In summer 2006 she was assistant conductor at the Savonlinna Opera Festival. During the 2006/07 season she was assistant conductor at the Finnish National Opera, conducting two performances of Kaija Saariaho’s opera Adriana Mater last spring. She has also conducted the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.