Finland can boast vigorous scenes in jazz, electronic, and folk music as well as a legendary educational emphasis on the classics, and violinist Pekka Kuusisto has aimed toward a career and a charismatic presentation that builds connections among these various genres.
Born in Espoo on October 7, 1976, Kuusisto began playing the violin at age three and enrolled at the Sibelius Academy when he was nine. His primary teacher there was Tuomas Haapanen. Part of Kuusisto's training was American; he studied under Miriam Fried and Paul Bliss at Indiana University between 1992 and 1996...