Composer Lotta Wennäkoski (b. 1970) studied music theory and composition at the Sibelius Academy with Eero Hämeenniemi, Kaija Saariaho and Paavo Heininen and in the Royal Conservatory of the Hague with Louis Andriessen. Wennäkoski’s commissions have included “Sakara” for orchestra (HPO/Esa-Pekka Salonen, 2003), “Hava” (Tapiola Sinfonietta, 2008), the flute concerto “Soie” (the Finnish RSO, 2009) and “Verdigris” (The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, 2015). In 2017, the BBC commissioned “Flounce” for a premiere at the “Last Night of the Proms” on September 9th, 2017 at the Royal Albert Hall. In November 2018, the musicians of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra premiered the new, commissioned work “Hele” for an ensemble. Wennäkoski has recently signed an agreement to write an opera for Savonlinna Opera Festival. Lotta Wennäkoski was the artistic coordinator of Tampere Biennale festival 2008–2010 and planned the Avanti! Summer Sounds Festival in 2017. Works by Wennäkoski have been released on the Alba and Ondine record labels.