Antti Nissilä

Composer - Barytone - Conductor

After early music school years, with viola and piano as his first instruments, Antti Nissilä began his studies in composition at the Youth Department of Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He completed his education with three degrees in music (teacher of music theory 1996, vocal teacher 1997, composer 2008) at Tampere Conservatoire and UAS.

As a composer Antti Nissilä has written commissioned works for orchestras, stage productions (two chamber operas, song plays), choirs, bands and solo artists. Music for wind ensembles has an important role in his composer's catalogue, and his music is frequently played by numerous junior and amateur bands as well as professional ensembles.

Antti Nissilä has appeared in barytone roles at Tampere Opera, Ilmajoki Music Festival and other venues in Finland, and as a soloist in large scale concert performances with choirs and orchestras. He has also worked as an opera choir master and conducted orchestras, bands and vocal ensembles.

Since 2015 Nissilä has been employed by world's northernmost town Hammerfest as a singer, vocal teacher and conductor. His duties also include the artistic direction of Hammerfest Storband (big band) and the wind band of Hammerfest Musikforening.

Selected career milestones:

2006

Ongang for symphony orchestra commissioned and performed by Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra. Live recording broadcasted nationwide by Finnish Broadcasting Company.

“ - - heavily influenced by rhythm music, but anchored in the more classical idiom as well - -. Nissilä showed a distinct mastery of the orchestra apparatus, and a sense of form not any the less.”
concert review in Finland's leading Swedish language newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet (translated from Swedish)

2008
Title role in Don Giovanni in a UAS cooperation production at Pyynikki Hall, Tampere.

”Interesting enough, Nissilä is a composer as well. The character of his baritone varied throughout the evening. At times, his voice sounded like a high lyric baritone, but on the other hand it had metallic power, too.”
opera review in Finland's leading newspaper Helsingin Sanomat (translated from Finnish)

2011

Tampere Opera Associaton's Grand Prix stipendium. Role as Monostatos in Magic Flute.

2012

Premiere of chamber opera Pyhät seinät (Holy Walls), music and libretto by Antti Nissilä.

"The duet of the dramatic soprano and the strong-charactered baritone is luscious in every way. - - It is a joy to listen to a verbally fluent new opera in Finnish language.”

opera review in newspaper Kotimaa
(translated from Finnish)

Role as L'imperial Comissario in Madama Butterfly at Tampere Opera. (Stage pic in Gallery.)

First prize in Finland's Youth Choir Association's composition contest with the song Flowers Preach. Second prize in Finland's Wind Band Association's composition contest with Fair Day for violin and wind orchestra.

2013

Nautilus for symphony orchestra performed by Pori Sinfonietta and music school students from Pori region.

2014-2017

Opera choir master at Ilmajoki Music Festival, preparing the chorus for the world premieres of two new Finnish operas.

2015
Premiere of chamber opera Vieraat ("Guests, Strangers") music and libretto by Antti Nissilä,

commissioned by Nurmes Christmas Music Festival.

”The intense music and the realistic text hardly left anyone in the audience indifferent. - - A topical work of art - -. The past, caring for each other and the sweet chrismas songs of childhood are combined in a beautiful way."

review in newspaper Ylä-Karjala
(translated from Finnish)