Mikko Luoma
Accordionist
"The piece (Serenade) received a riveting performance by the brilliant accordionist Mikko Luoma and the accomplished iO String Quartet, to conclude this concert on the eve of Mr. Ruders's actual birthday."
"By far the most sophisticated piece of the evening was an accordion concerto, "Spiriti," by the Finnish composer Jukka Tiensuu. Mr. Tiensuu's pointillistic, uneven phrases, unpredictable silences and drifting chords were made to order for Mikko Luoma's virtuoso solo playing."
"The skillful and electrifying soloist in the concerto was Mikko Luoma, whose playing shook off the last remaining negative images associated with accordion."
Mikko Luoma has given concerts in most European countries as well as in the USA. He has performed as a soloist with the New Juilliard Ensemble, AVANTI!, Zagros and the Tapiola Sinfonietta in venues such as the Lincoln Center in New York and the Kammermusiksaal der Berliner Philharmonie. He has worked with conductors such as Stefan Asbury, John Storgårds, Joel Sachs, Hannu Lintu. Mr. Luoma has given the world premieres of the accordion CONCERTOS by Jukka Tiensuu and Veli-Matti Puumala.
His SOLO REPERTOIRE ranges from transcriptions of keyboard music from the baroque era up to the avant-garde of our own time.
Mikko Luoma has given the Finnish premieres of solo pieces by Salvatore Sciarrino, Adriana Hölzky, Bent Sørensen, Younghi Pagh-Paan, Steve Montague, Alvin Lucier to mention a few. He has played the New York premieres of solo pieces by Magnus Lindberg and Jukka Tiensuu.
CHAMBER MUSIC is a vital part of Mr. Luomas musicianship. He is a founder member of the PLUS ENSEMBLE (ML; accordion, Erkki Lahesmaa; cello and Christoffer Sundqvist; clarinet).
As a member of the Plus Ensemble he has commissioned, premiered or/and given the first Finnish performances of over a dozen new works for this group of instruments (see repertoire).
Besides touring and concerts in various festivals, the Plus Ensemble annually presents a three-concert series at the Sibelius-Museum in Turku.
In other occasions Mr. Luoma has given the (Finnish) premieres of chamber music works by Charles Wuorinen, Heinz Holliger, Adriana Hölzky, Mauricio Kagel, Matthias Pintscher.
Teacher
Mikko Luoma currently holds a position as senior lecturer in classical accordion and contemporary chamber music at Turku Music Academy in Finland.
He has lectured and given master classes at the Juilliard School of Music, Columbia University, the Hochschule für Musik in Lübeck and the Musik Akademie Franz Liszt in Weimar.
At Turku Music Academy, Luoma programs an annual series of three concerts focusing on contemporary music titled "ABOA NOVA". He also conducts the chamber orchestra "Music Academy Now".
Mikko Luoma has conducted the Finnish premieres of works by Gerard Grisey, Per Nørgård, Michael Torke, Morton Feldman.
Prior to these activities he has taught at the Sibelius-Academy and Turku Conservatoire.
Studies
Luoma graduated from the Sibelius-Academy with the highest possible honors under Matti Rantanen. He also graduated from the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Trossingen under Prof. Hugo Noth. He gave his debut concert in 1995 in Helsinki.
1997-1998 Mr. Luoma further sharpened his skills and knowledge during the course of a Fulbright scholarship at the City University of New York, where he studied music analysis and performance practice of contemporary music.