of The Catholic University of America Symphony Orchestra Leif Segerstam, conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra Ulf Söderblom, Principal Conductor of the Finnish National Opera (1973–1993), taught at the Sibelius Academy and conducted its orchestras from 1965 to 1968 Heidi Sundblad-Halme, founder and conductor of the Helsinki Women’s Orchestra; composer Okko Kamu, conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra Osmo Vänskä, music director of the Minnesota Orchestra Mikko Franck, conductor of the Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France Susanna Mälkki, conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Hannu Lintu, conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Klaus Mäkelä, conductor of the Orchestre de Paris Dima Slobodeniouk, conductor of the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia Santtu-Matias Rouvali, conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Philharmonia Orchestra Dalia Stasevska, conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra Instrumentalists Astrid Riska, organist Juhani Aaltonen, Finnish jazz saxophonist and flautist Linda Brava, violinist France Ellegaard (1913–1999), pianist and faculty member Gerard Le Feuvre, cellist and founder of the Kings Chamber Orchestra Simon Ghraichy (1985), pianist Tuija Hakkila (1959), pianist Anja Ignatius (1911–1995), violinist and professor Kalevi Kiviniemi, organist Kari Kriikku, clarinetist Matias Kupiainen, lead guitarist of the band Stratovarius Pekka Kuusisto, violinist Risto Lauriala, pianist Max Lilja, cellist in the band Hevein and founding member of Apocalyptica Hui-Ying Liu-Tawaststjerna, pianist Paavo Lötjönen, cellist in the band Apocalyptica Antero Manninen, former cellist in the band Apocalyptica and cellist in the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Olli Mustonen, pianist and composer Arto Noras, cellist, student of Paul Tortelier Mikko Paananen, known as Mige, bassist of the band HIM Martti Pokela, founder of the folk music department and former professor of the kantele Aku Raski aka Huoratron, electro house and chiptune musician Martti Rousi, cello teacher Kaija Saarikettu, Professor of solo strings and chamber music Antti Siirala, winner of the Dublin, Leeds, and Beethoven international piano competitions Agnes Tschetschulin, violinist, composer, one of the first four graduates Eicca Toppinen, cellist in the band Apocalyptica Perttu Kivilaakso, cellist in the band Apocalyptica, former Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Vocalists Anneli Aarika-Szrok, contralto Kim Borg, bass Monica Groop, mezzo-soprano Tommi Hakala, baritone, winner of the 2003 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition Jorma Hynninen, baritone Soile Isokoski, soprano Topi Lehtipuu, tenor Peter Lindroos, tenor (was both a student and teacher at the academy) Karita Mattila, soprano, winner of the 1983 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition Jyrki Niskanen, tenor Arja Saijonmaa, singer Petteri Salomaa,