Donemus Webwinkel — Mäntysaari, Lauri

Lauri Mäntysaari (b. Helsinki, 1982) studied composition in Sibelius Academy with Veli-Matti Puumala and earned his Master’s Degree 2011. His music has been performed widely in Finland, but also in Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Austria, Germany and Canada. Mäntysaari’s works have recently gained success in international competitions in Italy (Sur for ensemble, First Prize of the 3rd International Composition Competition of the Conservatory of Milan, 2012) and The Netherlands (Muove for string quartet, First Prize of the Young Masters XXI Composition Contest in The Hague, 2012).

Besides writing for orchestra and instrumentalists, Mäntysaari is also keen on choir music. His choral works are performed by topmost Finnish choirs, such as the YL Male Voice Choir and Key Ensemble. In February 2011 Mäntysaari worked with the Choir of Latvian Radio within a young composers’ workshop.

Mäntysaari lives in Turku, Finland, and works there actively as a composer, performer and newspaper critic.