BIOGRAPHY

Finnish artist Mika Rännäli is a tribrid musician. As a three-component hybrid, his artistic profile is a unique blend of pianist, composer and ballroom dancer coexisting, comingling and living in inspiring symbiotic relationship. The pianist takes the lion's share of the cake, while composing is more periodic and the ballroom dancer had it's heyday in Mr. Rännäli's teens while nowadays it is still showing the way how to feel the music with every fiber of your being.

As a pianist, Mr. Rännäli has established his position as one of the most extraordinary and intriguing artists of his generation. Such descriptions as "One of Finland's finest pianists" - American Record Guide, "Engaging temperament" - Gramophone, "Rännäli shined" - Washington Post, "Magical way to close the season" - Greenwich Time, "A spectacular return" - Times-Herald Record, "Phenomenal artist" - Gothenburg Post, have followed his recitals, orchestral and chamber performances all over the world.

Mika Rännäli has performed at venues such as the Carnegie Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Musashino Hall in Tokyo. He has appeared with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra along with majority of Finnish orchestras as well as Orchestra Nacional do Porto, Greenwich Symphony, Biel-Bienne Symphony Orchestra, Flawiler Chamber Orchestra, and he has worked with conductors such as Okko Kamu, Vasili Sinaiski, Lio Kuokman, Rumon Gamba, Howard Griffiths, Marc Tardue, Jaakko Kuusisto, Arvo Volmer, Bjarte Engeset, Ulf Söderblom and Jan Söderblom.

Mr. Rännäli’s compositions are mainly for solo piano apart from three song cycles and a fantasy for violin and piano. His works have been premiered by baritone Jorma Hynninen, soprano Helena Juntunen, soprano Anna-Kristiina Kaappola and violinist Pekka Kuusisto.

Mika Rännäli's CD release Intimate Garden is a live world-premiere recording of the complete piano works by the Finnish composer Leevi Madetoja. The recording has received magnificent critical acclaim in the leading classical magazines such as Gramophone and American Record Guide.

As a dancer, Mr. Rännäli was a three-time Finnish National Champion of ballroom dancing, reached the semifinals at the British Junior Open in Blackpool and represented Finland in the European Championships as well as the Nordic Championships with his partner Pia Paldanius. He has also performed as a dance soloist in the musical "Some Like It Hot" and in the opera "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in the Oulu Theater. In addition, Rännäli has taken modern dance classes at the Kuopio Dance Festival.

Mika Rännäli held the position of the Artistic Director at two festivals: the Oulu Music Festival (2002-2008) and the Oulunsalo Soi Chamber Music Festival (2022-2023).

Mr. Rännäli moved back to his native Finland in 2020 after living in New York City for 22 years.