Joonatan Rautiola
Saxophonist, singer and interdisciplinary artist Joonatan Rautiola’s musical personality has been shaped by encounters with diverse artists and genres. His 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 and partnered with author-director Alain Foix and physical theatre group Kallo Collective among others. He has performed at events like the Musica Nova festival and at venues such as Salle Pleyel and Carnegie Hall.
Joonatan Rautiola is a member of the Aava Saxophone Quartet and Uusinta Ensemble. His 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 currently teaches at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, where he leads an international saxophone studio, as well as at the Paris Conservatoire Supérieur (CNSMDP).
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
UPCOMING PREMIERES
Lauri Supponen: ”Euryead” chamber opera, 2026
Olli Virtaperko: Saxophone concerto (with Avanti! orchestra), 2027
Miika Hyytiäinen, Juha Leinonen, Kimmo Kuitunen: works featuring voice and/or saxophone (2025 and 2026)
CONCERTS & PROJECTS
11 and 12 September, Lappeenranta, Finland
Aava Saxophone Quartet with Saimaa Sinfonietta, cond. Erkki Lasonpalo
Veli Kujala: Transformations – Concerto for saxophone quartet (premiere of version with chamber orchestra)
14 – 25 July, Gap, France
Masterclass at the Université Européenne de Saxophone
Recital on July 16, Chapelle des Pénitents, Gap
Works by Lili Boulanger, Philippe Leroux, Frank Martin …
With Fumie Ito, piano and Nicolas Mizen, saxophone
7 – 13 June : SaxibA Ensemble summer tour: Puteaux – Paris – Amsterdam – Brussels
Concert in Puteaux, 7th of June
5 June, Riihimäki Summer Concert Series, Finland
Aava Saxophone Quartet with Pacho Flores, trumpet
& Tuomas Turriago, piano
Turriago – Ligeti – Bozza – Flores – Piazzolla
10 – 11 May, Sulmona, Italy
Masterclass alongside Mikhail Kazakov, organised by Giuseppe Laterza and Associazione Exigentia
30 March, Concert Hall, Helsinki Conservatory
30 vuotta! Pekka Silén Länsi-Helsingin musiikkiopiston lehtorina
With Pekka Silén, recorder and Marianna Henriksson, cembalo among others
Turini – Virtaperko – Koskinen – Arho – Brel – Couperin – J.S. Bach
13 March, Pôle Supérieur Aliénor, Poitiers, France
Masterclass for Gilles Tressos’ and Christophe Bois’ saxophone students
27 February – 2 March, Lübecker Musikschule, Germany
International masterclass and saxophone competition jury, alongside Simon Diricq and Christian Wirth
20-21 February, Jacques Thibaud Conservatory, Bordeaux, France
Masterclass for Marie-Bernadette Charrier’s and Sara Zazo Romero’s saxophone students at PESMD Bordeaux.
Concert appearance performing J.Rautiola: Hetken musiikkia
1 December 2024, Sonore Hall, Helsingin Musiikkitalo
Recital with Nicolas Arsenijevic and Sibelius Academy saxophone students
Bach – Mendelssohn – Ibert – Lauba – Glinka
23 October 2024, Janakkala Medieval church
Dowland & Cupido, with lutenist Eero Palviainen
22 September 2024, Laajasalo church, Helsinki
Saxophone & voice recital with pianist Marko Hilpo
Fauré – Finzi – Muczynski – Albright – Milhaud
14 September 2024, Avanti-hall, Helsinki
Concert programme curated by composer Olli Virtaperko, featuring many saxophone works (of his)
Featuring Niko Kumpuvaara, accordeon, Anna-Sofia Anttonen, alto saxophone, Olli Virtaperko, cello and Mariko Furukawa, piano and Roland C-30, in works by Orlando Gibbons, Orlando Bass, Christian Lauba, Olli Virtaperko
15-26 July 2024, Gap, France
Teaching at the Université Européenne de Saxophone
Featuring Mariano Garcia and Nicolas Arsenijevic, saxophones and Cyrille Lehn, piano. Works by Bach, Karg-Elert, Lauba, Bass, Koechlin
- 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.