15-year-old violinist named as Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra emerging artist

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The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) has announced the launch of its new Emerging Artists Programme, with violinist Lilja Haatainen and conductor Maximilian Fagerlund as its inaugural participants.

The programme is designed to support the artistic development of outstanding young artists and strengthen their connection with the orchestra, its musicians and audiences.

The collaboration with violinist Haatainen will take the form of a multi-season artistic partnership starting in autumn 2027. During this period, she will appear as a soloist with the orchestra and perform chamber music together with HPO musicians. 

’I am truly happy and grateful for the opportunity to join the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra as their Young Artist for the next three seasons, and to develop as a musician and artist in such excellent company! I look forward to my upcoming solo concerto appearances and to playing chamber music with the magnificent Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra!’ commented Haatainen.

Haatainen’s  2026/27 season includes debuts with the Antwerp and Munich Symphony Orchestras and the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, working with Osmo Vänskä, Ross Jamie Collins and Kasmir Uusitupa. She also appears in recital at the Verbier Festival at Schloss Elmau.

She has appeared with numerous Finnish orchestras. Recent highlights include her debut with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under Manfred Honeck, appearance at the International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht at the invitation of Janine Jansen, the opening concert of the Sion Festival and a concert with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Mikkeli Festival. 

Born in 2011, Haatainen started playing the violin at the age of three. She studied at the Oulu Conservatory until 2022 and has studied with Janne Malmivaara. She is a student of the Finnish Violin Academy, a period-based special education programme for young talented violinists.

Haatainen is supported by the Stretton Society, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Pro Musica and the Wihuri Foundation in Finland.