About us
The Microtonal Orchestra is a grass roots organisation dedicated to creating the worlds first poly-microtonal grand orchestra performing all tunings systems and their combinations.
The orchestra and its yearly summer school and festival are a fertile ground for new commissions, existing compositions pieces, and microtonal pedagogies for musicians, composers, conductors, and administrators.
Microtonal Orchestra
Our vision is a world where all types of microtonal, non-western and western, historical and invented, tuning systems are not mere novelty but norms and standards. Microtonal in this way is not a stylistic definition but a normalised term merely for any musical infrastructure. The orchestra is dedicated to playing contemporary music from every corner of the world accurately and authentically.
Concerts
The concerts highlight old and new microtonal music repertoire from around the world.
Festival
Starting in 2027 the yearly festival in Helsinki the festival presents the results of the summer school and more.
Summer School
The summer school brings together students and teachers with the orchestra to study, compose, and play.
Chief Conductor
Dr. Timo Tuhkanen
The founder of the Microtonal Orchestra Tuhkanen has shown remarcable vision in pushing the limits of contemporary music and its structures. A composer, instrument builder, writer, research, an conductor, as well as organiser and fundraiser Tuhkanen has created a name boldly combining artistic practices and institutional forms with projects such as the Microtonal Music Studios and the Myymälä2 art gallery and event space and the Villa Eläintarha artists residency.
Artistic
Director
Juhani Nuorvala
Artistic Director of the 2027 festival Juhani Nuorvala is the leading figure of his generation in the Finnish microtonal music world. Nuorvala has delved into both microtonality, French spectral music, minimalism, techno and rock with the enthusiasm of an explorer. It all becomes organically fused into his own idiom, often characterised by a frenzied rhythmic drive. Nuorvala’s output comprises everything from radiophonies and solo pieces for the Finnish kantele to symphonies and opera. He is well-known for his expertise in microtonal and xenharmonic ideas and his way of using them to create his own, imaginative music.
Orchestral Education
The Orchestra consists of both professional and amateur musicians dedicated to the highest quality of musical expression. The pedagogical projects held by the orchestra teach both learning students, music teachers, as well as professional musicians or conductors techniques for teaching and learning microtonal music.
Strings
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Winds
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Brass
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Community Projects
Held in collaboration with multiple organisations from around the world our projects highlight the quality and dedication of our orchestra and its members.
Helsinki Collaborators
We collaborate with multiple organisations in Helsinki, nationally in Finland, internationally in Europe and around the globe.
National Collaborators
Our national collaborators consist of Universities, Conservatoires, and Music Schools, Music Festivals, as well as independent institutions.
University of the Arts Helsinki
Educational Steering Group
Turku Conservatory
Educational collaborator
Musica Nova
Distribution and Performance Network
Jorma Panula Conducting Academy
Educational Steering Group
International Collaborators
We collaborate with multiple organisations from around the world, from our invited artists, composers, and musicians to our educational steering group our network or organisations working in the field of microtonal music is one of a kind.
MIKROSKOP Platform
Slovakia
Microtonal Guitar Institute
Turkey
University of Auckland
New Zealand
Berkelee College of Music
United States of America
What are you waiting for?
Ready to take the next step? Let’s bring your vision to life! Explore our services and get in touch today for a consultation. Together, we’ll make it happen.
Our work in numbers
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employees
230
happy clients
+3M
years of experience
+25
offices worldwide
179
Contact us
We are located in Helsinki, Finland. For more information please contact us.