Jukka-Pekka Lehto (b. 1958)

Finnish composer Jukka-Pekka Lehto earned a degree in military musicianship from the Finnish Navy Band in Turku. He studied flute at the Turku Conservatory and pursued further education at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. Lehto has worked as flutist of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and also has conducted many local orchestras of western Finland. He has been the artistic leader of the Crusell Music Festival in Uusikaupunki, which consists of competitions for wind instruments as well as masterclasses and concerts.

In 1987, Lehto became solo flutist of the Pori Sinfonietta Orchestra. Since then, he has been performing and teaching masterclasses in Finland, throughout Europe and in the United States. Also since this time, Lehto has devoted himself more and more to composition. Initially, he composerd mostly “easy listening” music, but gradually began adopting a more refined, modernistic musical language. As of 1999, he is a member of the Finnish Composers Society.

Though initially he considered himself a longtime, self-taught composer, Lehto gradually began to attend masterclasses in composition. His main teacher was Lauri Kilpiö (Sibelius Academy, Helsinki). Lehto’s compositions have been performed in the United States, Japan and all across Europe. International awards include: 1st prize in the 2009 International Composition Competition “Ciutat de Bétera” in Spain, and 1st prize in the International Composers’ Competition “Windstream 2014” in Riga, Latvia.

Renowned for his compositions for flute and other woodwinds, nowadays, his symphonic, chamber and vocal works are being recognized more and more.