Veli Kujala – The official site of internationally acclaimed concert accordionist and composer Veli Kujala

”Veli Kujala is an archetype of modern musician, in whose character composing, improvising and crossing borders are all well presented.” Mats Liljeroos, Hufvudstadsbladet | ”The entirety is convincing, newest and most interesting music of our time… The music of Veli Kujala resonates in a startlingly fresh and uncompromisingly original way.” Ville Komppa, YLE Radio 1 | "Kujala’s bravura performance with an accordion capable of quarter tones in Mononen’s Satumaa added a thrill of off-key chaos." Music OMH (review of Tango Prom 70 concert at the BBC Proms) | ”...the Kujala duo shines in the Sonata, delivering it with breathtaking virtuosity and nuance.” Patrick Hanudel, American Record Guide | ”It is always a great pleasure to listen to the great Veli Kujala on the accordion” Médéric Collignon, Citizen Jazz | ”Accordionist Veli Kujala’s debut concert at the Sibelius-Academy offered exactly what a debut concert is best to expect: brilliant musicianship, fine works and entertaining program.” Samuli Tiikkaja, Helsingin Sanomat | ”The composition DAI presented wonderfully the colorful soundscape of Kujala’s music, which is sometimes gushing, graceful, mystical, sneaky, creepy, hard, clear, blinding bright.” Hanne Orrenmaa, Ilkka | ”Kujala played brilliantly on accordion… I would like to know if anybody in the audience had ever before heard such an unbelievable soloist on this instrument.” Östgöta Correspondenten | ”Kujala proved to be adept at all styles and made the accordion a more sophisticated instrument.” Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Coming Up!

Jun 10 AUF: Accordion Expanded with Avanti! Quartet in Helsinki Music Centre Paavo-Hall. Works by
Abrahamsen, Dvorak, Katzer, Kujala, Piazzolla, Rihm and Wennäkoski (world premiere)

Sep 17 Klangspuren-festival, trio with Frank Gratkowski (sax) and Ignaz Schick (turntables)

Oct 1–2 Soundscapes München with Harri Sjöström (sax), Phil Wachsmann (violin), Evan Parker (sax) etc.

Yleinen

Contemporary Composer of the Year Award

The Finnish Music Publishers Association (MPA Finland) has awarded me with the “Contemporary Composer of the Year” award. Previous winners include for example Kalevi Aho and Lotta Wennäkoski.

Yleinen

Performing again live – finally

Avanti! Chamber Orchestra organized this year a smaller festival instead of their annual Suvisoitto. I had the honor to perform my own Accordion Hyperoriental in the final concert: https://youtu.be/Y9JHaQ8l60s?t=1417

Yleinen

Violin concerto Auseil premiere in YLE Areena

Eriikka Maalismaa and Helsinki Phil conducted by Osmo Vänskä played tremendous premiere performance of my violin concerto ’Auseil’. It was filmed and recorded by the Finnish Broadcasting Company and can …