`If we needed proof that exciting new talent is in the pipeline, there was the marvellous American debut of Juho Pohjonen at [Carnegie�s] Weill Recital Hall. Mr Pohjonen, offered a formidable mixed program, topped by thrilling accounts of two fiendishly difficult works by a fellow Finn, Esa-Pekka Salonen.� New York Times
One of the brightest young instrumental talents to emerge from Finland today, Juho Pohjonen has attracted great attention as one of the Nordic country�s most intriguing and talented pianists. Pohjonen�s studies began in 1989, when he entered the Junior Academy of the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki. He has studied with Meri Louhos and Hui-Ying Liu at the Sibelius Academy, where he is currently completing work on Master�s Degree. In addition, Pohjonen has participated in several master classes of world-class pianists such as Andrŕs Schiff, Leon Fleisher, Jacob Lateiner and Barry Douglas. Juho Pohjonen has won numerous prizes in both Finnish and international competitions, including: First Prize at the 2004 Nordic Piano Competition in Nyborg, Denmark, First Prize at the International Young Artists 2000 Concerto Competition in Stockholm, the Prokofiev Prize at the AXA Dublin International Piano Competition 2003, and was a prize winner at Helsinki International Maj Lind Piano Competition 2002. Pohjonen has given recitals in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain, Germany, Russia and the United States. He has performed as a soloist with major Finnish orchestras such as the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic and the Sibelius Academy Orchestra. In October 2006 he toured Japan as the soloist with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra under Osmo Vänskä. He is also an accomplished chamber musician.
Pohjonen has been widely praised for his interpretations of music from Bach to Esa-Pekka Salonen. Anthony Tommasini, senior music critic of the New York Times, selected Pohjonen�s New York debut recital at Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall in 2004 as one of the most memorable concert events heard in New York during that year.
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