Leif Segerstam

Leif Segerstam (born March 2, 1944 in Vaasa) is a Finnish conductor and composer.

He studied violin, piano and conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and conducting at the Juilliard School in New York with Jean Morel.

Segerstam served as chief conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra from 1995 to 2007, and now holds the title of Chief Conductor Emeritus with the orchestra. He has held positions with numerous other orchestras, including the Danish National Radio Symphony and the Austrian Radio Symphony, and has guest-conducted many orchestras throughout the world including the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Toronto Symphony and the Brazilian OSESP - the Symphony Orchestra of the State of São Paulo. He is also the professor of conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. His students include Susanna Mälkki, Mikk Murdvee, Sasha Mäkilä and Markku Laakso.

He is also known for his sometimes unconventional use of the English language. A list of quotations has been compiled by Dale Gold, retired Principal Double Bass of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; its authenticity has however been denied by Segerstam.^{[citation needed]}

Recordings

He is widely known through his recorded discography, which includes the complete symphonies of Sibelius, Nielsen, and Mahler, as well as many works by contemporary composers such as the Finnish composers Einojuhani Rautavaara and the American composers John Corigliano and Christopher Rouse.

Compositions

As a composer, he is known especially for his numerous symphonies. He currently holds a world record with over 220 symphonies of which over a hundred have been completely performed.

He is equally known for his series of "Orchestral Diary Sheets", many of which are intended to be performed without a conductor. He developed a personal approach to aleatory through a style called "free pulsation" in which musical events interact flexibly in time.

Private life

Mr. Segerstam's father was the late Selim Segerstam, who made several song books.

He was married to the violinist Hannele Segerstam (concertmaster of the Finnish RSO). They have two children, Jan and Pia; Pia is a professional cellist.

After Segerstam's divorce from Hannele Segerstam he married the Helsinki Philharmonic harpist Minnaleena Segerstam. They have three children. In 2009 it was announced that their marriage would end.^{[citation needed]}

Works

• 230 Symphonies (as of August 2009^[ref])
• 30 String quartets
• 13 Violin concertos
• 8 Cello concertos
• 4 Viola concertos
• 4 Piano concertos

Awards

In 1999, he was awarded the Nordic Council Music Prize for his work as a "tireless champion of Scandinavian Music."

References

• Finnish Music Information Centre
• Leif Segerstam profile at Ondine Records

Interviews

• Leif Segerstam interview by Bruce Duffie, December 5, 1997