Conductor SANTTU-MATIAS ROUVALI’s career is developing at a remarkable pace. The exciting young Finn will make a number of international debuts during the 2011/12 season, including concerts with the hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt, Michigan’s Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, his first UK performance with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and debuts with the Toyko Symphony Orchestra and Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2011/12 Santtu-Matias will take up his Artist in Association position with the Tapiola Sinfonietta (his appointment immediately followed his debut with the orchestra in 2010), whilst continuing his relationship with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducting a number of concerts during the season.

Following his debut with The Hague’s Residentie Orkest in 2010 he has been re-invited to the orchestra for a number of projects including their German tour. Since 2009 he has been assistant to Sakari Oramo at the Kokkola Opera Festival and has conducted a number of productions including Bizet’s Carmen (summer 2010) and Mozart's Die Zauberflöte (2011). Also in Finland he continues to work with the Lahti Symphony, Turku Philharmonic and Tampere Philharmonic orchestras.

Having completed his studies in percussion at the Sibelius Academy, Santtu-Matias Rouvali entered the conducting class of Leif Segerstam in 2007. He has also studied with Jorma Panula and Hannu Lintu.