Joonatan Rautiola
Saxophonist, singer and interdisciplinary artist Joonatan Rautiola’s musical personality has been shaped by encounters with diverse artists and genres. His versatile career spans various projects with composers, actors, choreographers, and circus artists, leading to performances on prestigious stages and beyond.
Rautiola has collaborated with renowned ensembles such as the Strasbourg Philharmonic, Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, and Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has also partnered with author-director Alain Foix and physical theatre group Kallo Collective. His performances have graced events like the Musica Nova festival and prestigious venues such as Salle Pleyel and Carnegie Hall.
As a member of the Aava Saxophone Quartet and Uusinta Ensemble, Joonatan explores different musical expressions. His long-standing duo with pianist Marko Hilpo has delighted international audiences for over two decades.
A passionate educator and advocate of a holistic pedagogical approach, Joonatan Rautiola is Lecturer in Saxophone Music at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, where he leads an international saxophone studio.
Discover more about Joonatan’s musical journey and accomplishments in his full biography
Joonatan Rautiola’s alto saxophone art is sheer delight.”
Veijo Murtomäki, Helsingin Sanomat
Hochvirtuoses Klangwunder”
Irene Consantin, Lausitzer Rundschau
Joonatan Rautiola kleidete sein Part mit überraschende zart getönte Farben und einen Klang von edler Ausstrahlung.”
Michael Baumgartl, Schweriner Volkszeitung
The true soul of the performance was the fantastic soloist Joonatan Rautiola. Rarely does one get to experience such a close connection between the composition and its interpreter.”
Harri Hautala, Aamulehti
Immensely talented saxophonist … there did not seem to be anything he could not do with the instrument.”
Finlandia Weekly, Lee Alperin
Videos
Media
Appearances
- 15-26 July 2024, Gap, France
- Teaching at the Université Européenne de Saxophone
- Recital with Cyrille Lehn, piano (date T.B.A.), programme: Bach – Karg-Elert – Lauba – Bass – Koechlin
- Event page
- 15-20 June 2024, Zagreb, Croatia
- Jury member at Josip Nochta international saxophone competition
- Event page
- 4 June 2024, Arabia Kaikuu festival, Helsinki
- 27 May 2024, G Livelab, Helsinki
- Appearance at the Finnish Musicians’ Union general assembly
- Sigfrid Karg-Elert: Caprices ; Christian Lauba: Ennéa
- 26 April 2024, Europe Hall, Helsinki
- Appearance at Euroopan kulttuuriyhdistys ry’s event
- Michael Lysight: SETI
- 10 April 2024, Tampere Biennale, Finland
- 25-26 March 2024, Helsinki
- Quartet masterclass at the Finnish Guard Band
- 7 March 2024, Temppeliaukio church, Helsinki
- As a soloist with Finnish Guard Band, dir. Yoann Combemorel
- David Maslanka: Saxophone concerto
- Event page
- 29 February – 3 March 2024, Lubeck, Germany
- 15th International masterclasses & 12th International competition for classical saxophone
- with Simon Diricq & Christian Wirth
- 14 February 2024, Annalan Huvila, Helsinki
- Valentine’s Day concert with Arabia kaikuu -collective
- Reynaldo Hahn 150 years
- with Armaan Madar, piano
- Event page
- 21 January 2024, Salin klassiset concert series, Ylöjärvi
- Saxophone Quartet Aava recital
- Ligeti, Debussy, Mussorgsky
- Event page
- 22 December 2023
- Christmas concert of Ooppera Fantasia, Alppila church, Helsinki
- Cornelius, Palmgren, Saint-Saëns
- 6-10 December
- 19th World Saxophone Congress in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria: SaxibA ensemble recital
- Josué Moreno Prieto (premiere), Debussy, Mendelssohn
- 24-25 November
- Masterclass for Patrick Stadler’s saxophone students at the Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg
- Recital (Marcello, Hindemith, Supponen)
- 31 October – 11 November
- Jury member at the Concours International Adolphe Sax, Dinant, Belgium
- 19 October
- As a soloist with Kymi Sinfonietta, at “Waves! Light and Sound in Kotka”, Kotka Concert Hall
- Justė Janulytė: Colours of water
with Olari Elts, conductor
- 9-10 October
- Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland
- Masterclass for Lars Mlekusch’ saxophone students
- 2 October
- Helsinki Music Centre Organo Hall
- Passion du saxophone (Germany) & SaxibA ensemble
- Works by Ph. Geiss, D. Salleras, Debussy, Mendelssohn
- 15-24 August
- Académie Internationale de saxophone de Bretagne
- Concerts and masterclass
- 17-28 July
- Université Européenne de saxophone de Gap
- Concert with Fumie Ito, piano & masterclass
- Works by Debussy, Hindemith, Telemann, Tubin, Sibelius
- 5-6 June
- Arabia kaikuu festival, Helsinki, Finland
- with Maritta Manner, piano
- Works by Miika Hyytiäinen (premieres), Heta Aho, Aarre Merikanto
- 3 June
- Helsinki Music Centre Camerata Hall, Finland
- Video recordings of Miika Hyytiäinen’s new works
- With Maritta Manner, piano
- 30 May
- House of Nobility, Helsinki, Finland
- with Matilda Kärkkäinen, piano
- Works by Debussy and Schmitt
- 29 May
- Helsinki Music Centre Camerata Hall, Finland
- Soikoon! New ensemble works
- With Uusinta Ensemble
- Works by Jin Oh & Mathias Waenerberg ao.
- 4 May
- Estonian Science Academy, Tallinn
- with Johan Randvere, piano, featuring Uku Gross, saxophone
- Works by Debussy, Hindemith, Tubin & Sibelius
- 9 March
- Temppeliaukio Church, Helsinki, Finland
- with EMO Ensemble, dir. Pasi Hyökki
- Hillborg: The Breathing of the World
- 10-14 February
- Masterclasses in Europe:
- Hochschule für Musik und Tanz, Cologne, Germany
- Conservatoire de Paris, France
- 27 & 29 January
- Ritz (Vaasa) & G18 hall (Helsinki), Finland
- Vaasa baroque: Earthly angels – Passion
- Works by Cozzolani, Badalla, Caccini & Virtaperko (premieres)
- With Kajsa Dahlbäck, soprano & Kristiina Helin, stage direction ao.