JANNE SAKSALA (Berliner Philharmoniker)
25 September @10.00-14.00 in C-405 & 16.00-21.00 in A-404
26 September @10.00-14.00 & 17.00-21.00 in C-405

Born in Helsinki, Janne Saksala began studying the double bass at the age of 14 with Jiri Parviainen, having previously studied piano and violin. He also gained early performing experience as an electric bassist in various bands before discovering the double bass through his music school chamber orchestra.

After completing secondary school in 1986, Saksala moved to Berlin to study double bass with Klaus Stoll at the Hochschule der Künste. Other important influences on his musical development included Duncan McTier, František Pošta, and Ilan Gronich.

In 1991, Saksala was a prize-winner at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich. Two years later, he joined the Berlin Philharmonic and has held the position of Principal Double Bass since 2008.

As an active soloist and chamber musician, Saksala has collaborated with renowned artists including Pekka Kuusisto, Tabea Zimmermann, Olli Mustonen, Isabelle Faust, Leonidas Kavakos, Guy Braunstein, and Leif Ove Andsnes. He has performed regularly with the Stradivari Soloists of the Berlin Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic Jazz Group, and Ensemble Oriol. In 2023, he recorded a CD with the WuWei Trio, an ensemble for sheng, viola, and double bass.

Teaching is an important part of Saksala’s professional life. In 2023, he was appointed Professor of Double Bass at the Berlin University of the Arts together with Burak Marlali. He had previously held a guest professorship at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin. He is regularly invited to teach at universities across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and since 2005 has taught regularly at the Carl Flesch Academy in Baden-Baden.

Saksala is also active as a composer. His works include Rituaali for cello and double bass.