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 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

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

  • 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
    • Université Européenne de Saxophone: masterclass and recital
    • Event page
  • 7 – 16 June
    • SaxibA Ensemble summer tour: Puteaux – Paris – Amsterdam – Brussels – Zürich
  • 5 June Riihimäki Summer Concert Series, Finland
    • Aava Saxophone Quartet with Pacho Flores, trumpet
      & Tuomas Turriago, piano
    • Turriago – Ligeti – Bozza – Flores – Piazzolla
    • Event page
  • 10 – 11 May, Sulmona, Italy
    • Masterclass alongside Mikhail Kazakov
    • Event page
  • 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
    • Event page
  • 13 March, Pôle Supérieur Aliénor, Poitiers, France
    • Masterclass for Gilles Tressos’ and Christophe Bois’ saxophone students
    • Event page
  • 27 February – 2 March, Lübecker Musikschule, Germany
    • International masterclass and saxophone competition, alongside Simon Diricq and Christian Wirth, organised by Lilija Russanowa &
    • Event page
  • 20-21 February, Jacques Thibaud Conservatory, Bordeaux, France
    • Masterclass for Marie-Bernadette Charrier’s and Sara Zazo Romero’s saxophone students at PESMD Bordeaux, with J.Rautiola: Hetken musiikkia, among other works
  • 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 project with lutenist Eero Palviainen
    • Event page
  • 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
    • 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
    • Singing at Metsän Lohtu -outdoor concert, with Veera Muhli, piano
    • Aarre Merikanto: Kesäyö (Hellaakoski and Vala songs)
    • Event page
  • 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
    • Recital with Niko Kumpuvaara, accordion & Ville Ranta, live drawing
    • Miika Hyytiäinen: Zizek Says (premiere) ; Juha Leinonen: Saxacc (premiere) ; Yana Shliabanska: sonoCHRonos
    • Event page
  • 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.