The Mikkeli Music Festival's Young Talent concert on 5 August 2026 brings together the Brass Academy and the Young Piano Academy in a joint performance. The first half of this concert, presented in partnership with the regional co-operative, features breathtaking virtuoso piano works, while the second half showcases a brass ensemble of young musicians performing memorable themes from films and video games, specially selected to appeal to younger audiences. Holders of the S-Etukortti loyalty card are entitled to discounted tickets at €39 / €19.
The Instrument Academies nurture and develop Finland's most talented young musicians of their generation. The Academies comprise the Brass Academy, Young Piano Academy, String Academy, and Woodwind Academy, and are supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.
So what can audiences expect from the concert on 5 August, and what happens at the Instrument Academies? The Academies' teachers and young musicians share their insights.
BRASS ACADEMY – Music for the Screen
"An unforgettable evening awaits, where shifting rhythms and memorable themes take the audience on a journey from beloved film classics into the captivating world of video game music."
The Brass Academy is dedicated to maintaining Finland's high standard of brass performance while encouraging greater participation in brass playing among younger musicians. Its aim is to prepare talented students for professional studies at conservatoires and universities of music, ultimately leading to careers as professional musicians, particularly as orchestral players.
The Academy complements students' regular weekly instrumental tuition by providing high-level specialist training. Its core activities focus on ensemble playing, masterclasses, and collaboration with professional orchestras.
The programme to be performed in Mikkeli on 5 August features highlights from film and video game music, specially arranged for brass ensemble. Since these works are only rarely heard in brass arrangements, the concert promises a truly unique musical experience, taking listeners through the rich rhythmic energy and memorable themes of celebrated film scores as well as the exciting world of video game music, which is still seldom heard in the concert hall.
The arrangements have been created by Brass Academy alumnus Aulis Pöyhönen and versatile musician and arranger Janne Ikonen.
— Harri Lidsle, Chair of the Brass Academy Board and Head Teacher
oung trumpeter Peppi Ikonen from Rantasalmi performs with the Brass Academy Orchestra
"In our concert on 5 August, we—the young musicians of the Brass Academy—will be performing music from films and video games. The programme includes many themes that audiences are sure to recognise, along with some exciting new discoveries. The music is wonderfully varied in style and atmosphere, making it enjoyable for everyone—even those who aren't usually interested in films or video games!"
"During the Brass Academy's training periods, I have learned a great deal about the skills required for ensemble playing and performing in a brass ensemble, such as tuning within a section, achieving balance, creating a unified sound, and, of course, developing teamwork and leadership skills.
The masterclasses, taught by a diverse group of outstanding teachers, have helped me make significant progress with my own repertoire. They have also provided valuable opportunities to learn from my fellow musicians by listening to their performances and the feedback they receive. Performing my own repertoire in front of a supportive 'trial audience' at different stages of preparation has given me invaluable experience as well.
Alongside the high-quality teaching, the best part of the Brass Academy has been the other students. It has been wonderful to talk about music and brass playing with so many talented and motivated young musicians. Those conversations have broadened my perspective on myself as a performer and on music in general, while also providing invaluable peer support during the more challenging moments of learning my instrument.
Beyond the teaching itself, some of the most rewarding aspects of the Academy have been building a musical network, making music together, the fantastic team spirit, and forming lasting friendships. Through the Brass Academy, I have met remarkable people and made close friends whom I would never otherwise have had the chance to meet at this stage of my musical journey."
— Peppi Ikonen (19), trumpeter, Brass Academy
YOUTH PIANO ACADEMY – Tomorrow's Stars Take the Stage
"In a single evening, audiences can hear young pianists of very different ages, each already possessing a distinctive artistic voice, while experiencing an exceptionally broad spectrum of great piano repertoire—from the poetic lyricism of Romanticism to the rhythmic energy of modern music."
"The Youth Piano Academy was founded in 2013 by myself, Niklas Pokki, together with Antti Siirala and Teppo Koivisto. The Academy focuses in particular on developing solo performance skills and preparing students to perform confidently in demanding situations. Our goal is to educate musicians who are not only technically outstanding instrumentalists but also strong, original artistic personalities. We strive to ensure that every student's abilities stand up to international comparison within their own age group.
However, our work is about much more than technical excellence. We also encourage students to develop their own artistic identity, gain a deeper understanding of musical structure, and cultivate a personal relationship with musical expression.
The performers in this concert represent the Academy at many different stages of its educational programme. Among them is twelve-year-old Aleksi Sarkkinen, an exceptionally gifted young pianist who joined the Academy only recently. At the same time, the audience will hear Antti Pimiä, who has studied with us for several years, as well as Elmeri Utriainen, Atte Kohtala and Julia Elomaa, all of whom have just completed their final Academy period before continuing their studies at university level.
Each performer is a unique musical personality, with their own individual approach to music-making and their own distinctive vision of the piano's sound world.
The programme itself is both demanding and richly varied. Chopin's music reveals the singing quality of the piano, its sensitivity and refined virtuosity. Brahms's Capriccios, by contrast, are dark, intense miniature dramas. Ligeti's Étude transports the listener into an entirely different soundscape: a world of controlled chaos and modernism, where the piano at times seems almost impossible to play. Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 2 combines youthful energy, irony, lyricism and explosive power, while Liszt's—and later Volodos's—Hungarian Rhapsody is a dazzling display of pianistic brilliance. Englund's Introduzione e Toccata brings a distinctly Finnish voice to the programme, combining dramatic power with relentless rhythmic drive. Finally, Chopin's Barcarolle stands among the masterpieces of the piano repertoire, a work in which virtuosity and poetry merge into an orchestral richness of sound.
This is exactly the kind of programme that makes the concert well worth attending."
— Niklas Pokki, founding member of the Youth Piano Academy and concert pianist
Pianist Julia Elomaa (19) will continue her studies at the Royal College of Music in London
"Chopin's Barcarolle takes its name from the songs of the Venetian gondoliers. Throughout the work there is a hypnotic rocking motion, evoking the image of a boat gently gliding across the waves. Every single bar feels like a small miracle."
"I have been a student at the Youth Piano Academy for about five years. The Academy's training periods have supported my artistic development in a truly comprehensive way. I have drawn enormous inspiration and gained a wealth of different perspectives from world-class professors, which has helped me not only refine my technique but also develop a deeper understanding of the works I perform and of music itself.
The training periods have also included lectures on topics such as effective practice techniques and sight-reading. The Academy's diverse faculty has taught me to embrace different musical viewpoints and artistic personalities without being intimidated by differing opinions. Since many of the courses are conducted in English, I have also developed my communication skills in an international environment.
My happiest memories of the Youth Piano Academy are the time spent together with fellow students, especially the week-long masterclass course held each year during the Mänttä Music Festival. Every moment shared with my wonderful pianist friends has left a lasting impression on my heart.
The work I will perform in the concert on 5 August, Chopin's Barcarolle, is a very special piece to me and one of my favourite compositions by Chopin. It takes its name from the songs of the Venetian gondoliers, and throughout the piece there is an almost hypnotic rocking motion that creates a vivid image of a boat drifting across the waves. The work is filled not only with magical moments—every single bar feels like a small miracle.
The Royal College of Music is one of the world's most prestigious conservatoires, so I am looking forward to receiving exceptional tuition in an extraordinarily ambitious artistic environment. In addition to working with renowned professors and talented fellow students, I am excited about London's unique cultural scene, which offers endless inspiration, unforgettable experiences, and opportunities to grow as an artist."
— Julia Elomaa (19), pianist, Youth Piano Academy
Pianist Atte Kohtala from Savonlinna studied at the Youth Piano Academy for five years
"The Youth Piano Academy has taught me an enormous amount about piano playing, music, and the arts in general. It has also given me the opportunity to develop many valuable skills beyond music itself. For example, my language and social skills have improved greatly, and travelling independently using different forms of transport has become much easier and more natural.
My most memorable experiences were the Academy's annual week-long training periods in Mänttä. The teachers, as well as some of the students, come from other Nordic countries, and the masterclass experience is enriched by a series of outstanding concerts.
The work I will perform in the concert on 5 August, Ligeti's Étude No. 6, is unlike anything else I have played in terms of its complexity. Despite its extraordinary intricacy, the music drives relentlessly forward with tremendous energy, ultimately surging all the way down to the piano's lowest note."
— Atte Kohtala (18), pianist, Youth Piano Academy
20.7.2026
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