Our symphony orchestra composition " Water", co-composed with Tapio Lappalainen, won the Teosto Prize in 2023! The work was commissioned by the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and premiered at the Tampere Biennale Festival 2022 with Rebecca Tong as conductor.

The other winners of the 2023 Teosto Prize were Mikko Sarvanne’s compositions on Mikko Sarvanne Garden’s album Heräämisen ”valkea myrsky” and Helmi Kajaste and her team’s works on Draama-Helmi’s album ”Draama-Helmi kuistilla”.

Since 2003, the Teosto Prize has been awarded yearly to one or more Finnish music works. The purpose of the award is to raise awareness of promising local music makers and to promote creation and innovation in music. It is one of the biggest art awards in the Nordic countries.

The Teosto Prize awards 1-4 innovative and original musical works in any genre each year. The maximum prize sum is 40,000€. If the prize is awarded to a sole musical work or piece, the sum is 25,000€. The prize is funded by the deductions made from the performance compensations of non-Finnish music.

The jury's commentary:

SANNA AHVENJÄRVI AND TAPIO LAPPALAINEN’S COMPOSITION WATER

Water is a coherent and visual work of contemporary classical music, in which water moves in its different states, in swirls and waves. Even though water is a classic theme for composers of classical music, Water’s tonal structure is original and imaginative. The effects, such as instruments and microphones immersed in water, complement the music composed for more traditional orchestra instruments in a way that feels natural. The work uses artistic methods to highlight the topical issue of the state of our environment with its audience.