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Maija Hynninen, composer, sound artist

Photo by Maarit Kytöharju

Maija Hynninen (b. 1977) – composer and sound artist – incorporates in her work the human voice, live electronics and multidisciplinary performances. She entered the Sibelius Academy in 2003 (M.Mus. 2011) to study with Paavo Heineken while also working for a violin diploma at the Norwegian Academy of Music. She has added to her studies an ERASMUS exchange year in Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart with Oliver Schneller. The studies in electronics continued at IRCAM Cursus 2012–13. She started her PhD at UC Berkeley in 2016 with Franck Bedrossian, Ken Ueno, Edmund Campion and Cindy Cox as her professors. She is also earning a PhD in electro-acoustic music in Sibelius Academy.

Hynninen writes virtuoso parts for the musicians yet captures a sence of lightness of texture. The music is often governed by linear thinking while the harmony gravitates towards quartertones. The textures often combine noise and pitch which result in ambiguity of timbre. Her future works include chamber and orchestral music as well as works for soloist or small ensemble and live electronics.

For long and short bio, click here.