ABOUT ME

»Annika Palm played with an absolute mastery of tone«
— The Times

»Annika Palm’s determined character was memorable…she creates enjoyable art.«
— Helsingin Sanomat

Having spent more than half of my life abroad, I feel grateful for all the different cultures and languages I have come across and all the people I have met. They have taught me to be an open minded and social person. I appreciated living in cosmopolitan London, although my everlasting bonds and strong roots to my native country Finland has brought me back to my country since 2015. Also France with its culture and music is very close to my heart.

During my childhood the dinner table discussions were mostly about sports, and I seemed to be the odd one who preferred to play the piano and the violin… I believe having a family that didn’t share the same passion helped me to find my own way in the world of music.

Today my three daughters have a very different situation living in a home filled with music listening to all sorts of music styles, where playing an instrument from a young age is completely natural.

I love teaching children, giving them clues and tools about how to make music. I truly believe in what the great French musician Nadia Boulanger said:

»The art of music is so deep and profound that to approach it very seriously only is not enough. One must approach music with a serious rigor, and, at the same time, with a great, affectionate joy.« – Nadia Boulanger

– Annika

Annika Palm – CV

Born in Helsinki, Finland in 1973, Annika Palm started her musical education at the age of three in both piano and violin. Her main teacher was Katarina Nummi. In 1992, she moved to Paris and continued her piano studies by taking private lessons with Pascal Devoyon. A year later, she entered the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris where she studied under Alain Planès, Hortense Cartier-Bresson and Pierre-Laurent Aimard. She graduated [Prix] in both piano and chamber music in 1996.

After Paris, Annika moved to London to continue her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Joan Havill, and obtained her BMus in piano performance [with distinction] in July 1998. Four years later, she completed her Masters Degree [with distinction] with Tuija Hakkila at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. During the course of her studies she also attended several master classes in Prussia Cove and in Vienna with Ferenc Rados and in Italy with Konstantin Bogino.

Annika won 3rd prize in the 2001 Mauro Paolo Monopoli International Piano Competition in Barletta, Italy and a special prize in 1994 Maj Lind National Piano Competition in
Finland with her contemporary music performance.

Annika performs as a soloist and chamber musician all over Europe, including festivals such as • Musik På Slottet in Stockholm • Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival in Wales • Wegelius, Särestö Soi, Riihimäki Summer concerts, Katrina Chamber Music festival and Espoo International Piano Week in Finland. She has also performed in well-known venues in Europe, such as the • Salle Cortot in Paris • St Martin in the Field’s Church, Jerwood Hall LSO St Luke’s and the Purcell Room in London as part of Park Lane Group Young Artists series • St James’ Piccadilly, London • Ingres Museum, Montauban, France • Tampere-talo • Temppeliaukio Church, Sello-hall and Sibelius Academy Concert Hall in Helsinki. During summer she works as Raudaskylä International Music Seminar as their accompanist.

She has given recitals with musicians such as cellists Pierre Doumenge and Beate Altenburg and violinists Cecilia Zilliacus, Anne-Marie Åström, Hagai Shaham and Hu Kun, with whom she also did a TV broadcast for Phoenix Satellite TV. In 2004 she did a tour in Scotland with the Dante Quartet.

In 2008, Annika founded AND-ensemble – a chamber music group specialised in playing music written by Swedish speaking Finns.

Annika is a passionate teacher. She was a substitute piano teacher at Espoo Music School for the first year back in Finland. Since August 2016 she teaches piano at West Helsinki Music School. She also teaches privately and during the summer at Wegelius Summer Course in Finland. Previously she has taught at International school of London, St Christopher’s School in Hampstead and also given master classes at Music House in Pietarsaari.