11.03.2025
An Emma award to the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
- Finnish Accordion Concertos Classical Album of the year 2024
The Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra's album 'Finnish Accordion Concertos' (Alba) was awarded in the category Classical album of the Year at the Emma Awards held in Espoo Metro Arena on Saturday 8 March 2025. The Emma Award was the second for the orchestra and their fifth nomination.
'Finnish Accordion Concertos', released last spring by record label Alba, contains works for accordion and orchestra by three Finnish composers. All works were co-commissioned by the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra and the Kokkola Winter Accordion and premiered at the Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival.
The album features ‘Vyöry’ by Minna Leinonen (b. 1977), with accordionist Antti Leinonen as the OCO’s soloist. Concerto for two accordions, string orchestra and percussionist, op. 115 by Aulis Sallinen (b. 1935) - a piece commissioned by Sampo Purontaus, Kokkola Winter Accordion and OCO - is interpreted by Sonja Vertainen and Janne Valkeajoki. The third concerto on the album is Shape-Shifter by Veli Kujala (b. 1976) with Petteri Waris as soloist. The conductor on the album is Tomas Djupsjöbacka, also known as a cellist and chamber musician, who has been working with OCO for many years.
The album was recorded at the Kaustinen Folk Arts Center in spring 2023 and was produced, mixed and edited by Simon Fox-Gál. The recording assistant was Oskari Hannula.
The Awards ceremony took place in Espoo Metro Areena on Saturday 8 March, where the orchestra was represented by its deputy General Manager Emilia Otava. The conductor and soloists of the album, the artistic director of the Kokkola Winter Accordion Raimo Vertainen and the representative of the record company Erkki Nisonen were also present.
The Emma Award was the second for the Orchestra, and the fifth nomination. The OCO got its previous Emma Award in 2014. The orchestra has also received the Janne Prize, the predecessor of the classical Emma Award, in 1999.
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photo credits: Julius Konttinen / Emma-gaala
