ABOUT

Sauli Zinovjev is a Finnish composer of contemporary classical music whose work is defined by its depth of expression and immersive orchestral soundscapes.

​

His compositions, described as “brisk, exciting and unpredictable” (The Wall Street Journal), have captivated audiences and performers alike, leading to collaborations with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, as well as leading Nordic orchestras such as the Oslo Philharmonic, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.

​​

Zinovjev’s recent works include the percussion concerto A Savage Beat, written for virtuoso percussionist Vivi Vassileva, and the Piano Concerto composed for acclaimed pianist Víkingur Ólafsson and his First Symphony, Taste of Metal. Premiered by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under Hannu Lintu, Taste of Metal subsequently travelled to Oslo and Paris, where it was performed by the Oslo Philharmonic and Orchestre de Paris under Osmo Vänskä and Klaus Mäkelä.

 

The 2025–2026 season also saw the premiere of his Nordic Council Music Prize nominated Second Violin Concerto "World Bearer" premiered by Nikita Boriso-Glebsky with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Elim Chan, the orchestral song cycle Tarpeeton Pyyhitään Yli (Erasure) with soprano Helena Juntunen and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under Jukka-Pekka Saraste, the orchestral work Fade Out with Sinfonia Lahti, and a Clarinet Concerto written for Nicolas Baldeyrou and premiered by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France under François Leleux.​

​

​Zinovjev's music has been championed by musicians such as Klaus Mäkelä, Hannu Lintu, Elim Chan, Pekka Kuusisto, Hugo Ticciati, Gustavo Gimeno, Dalia Stasevska, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Dirk Kaftan, Sakari Oramo, Eivind Gulberg-Jensen and the Leonkoro Quartet.

​​

In the 2026–2027 season, Zinovjev’s residency with Sinfonia Lahti continues. His percussion concerto A Savage Beat receives its Norwegian premiere with the Oslo Philharmonic, Vivi Vassileva and Marin Alsop, while the Leonkoro Quartet premieres his new String Quartet, "Anthem". The work will embark on a tour across Europe and the United States, with performances at major venues including the Wiener Konzerthaus, Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin and Wigmore Hall in London.

​

Zinovjev attended the Sibelius Academy and lives in Helsinki, Finland.