Master Classes

Welcome to participate in this year's Master Classes!

In summer 2026, the Korsholm Music Festival will organise an extensive masterclass in Vaasa from 21–26 July, in collaboration with the Vaasa Summer University and the Kuula Institute.

The masterclasses have been a central part of the festival’s activities since its founding. Under the leadership of the festival’s Artistic Director, cellist Jan-Erik Gustafsson, the programme continues to develop with the aim of offering high-level instruction in an international environment.

The courses are primarily intended for students at music academies as well as advanced students at music institutes in Finland and abroad. The masterclasses are part of the Vaasa Summer University course programme.

Registration 1 March–15 May 2026 via the Vaasa Summer University website.

Information

21.–26.7.2026
Kuula-opisto

Laivakatu 16, 65100 Vaasa

Target group: professional students of music in Finland and abroad, as well as music school students who have already advanced in their studies

Organiser: Korsholm Music Festival, Vaasa Summer University & Kuula-opisto

Registration: Register for the masterclass no later than 15 May!

Class fee: 395 €

The fee includes:

Additional lessons: 70 € / 45 min

Accommodations: Accommodation is not included in the course fee. However, participants are offered rooms at GreenStar Hotel (1–3 persons per room), subject to availability. The distance from the hotel to the institute is approximately 950 metres.

Notable: Two concerts featuring masterclass participants are included in the festival programme. The festival reserves the right to make changes to schedules and concert dates.

Faculty

clarinett – Harri Mäki

Harri Mäki is an internationally acclaimed Finnish clarinetist and pedagogue, known for premiering contemporary works, his long tenure as principal clarinetist of the Tapiola Sinfonietta, and his significant contributions as a professor and artistic director.

Violin – Mari Tampere-Bezrodny

Mari Tampere-Bezrodny is an internationally renowned violinist and professor, distinguished by an extensive solo and chamber music career in over 40 countries, premieres of Estonian and Russian works, and a highly influential pedagogical career at leading music academies.

Violin – Janne Malmivaara

Janne Malmivaara is among Finland’s leading violinists and violin pedagogues, performing actively as a soloist and chamber musician at major festivals while teaching at several prominent music institutions.

Cello – Joona Pulkkinen

Joona Pulkkinen is a distinguished Finnish cellist and lecturer at the Sibelius Academy, internationally active as a soloist with leading orchestras and concert halls and formerly principal cellist of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra.

Piano / Lied – Kirill Kozlovski

Kirill Kozlovski is a pianist and lecturer at the Sibelius Academy, internationally active as a soloist and collaborative pianist, known for acclaimed recordings, his doctoral research on Shostakovich, and his strong commitment to both contemporary and classical repertoire.

Voice / Lied – Sirkka Parviainen

Sirkka Parviainen’s impressive pedagogical skills manifest themselves in the finals of singing competitions in Finland and abroad as well as in the number of professional engagements of her students. She was the leader of the vocal department of the Sibelius Academy from 2014 to 2020 and is currently holding a tenure position in the University of Arts as a lecturer of vocal music.

Accompaniment – Mikael Kemppainen

Mikael Kemppainen has been awarded in many piano and chamber music competitions, for instance first prize in the Jyväskylä Piano Competition in 2001. Nowadays, he works as a lecturer of accompaniment at the Turku Conservatory. He is also a familiar face as a pianist at master classes and competitions.