Tomi Räisänen (b. 1976) studied composition at the Sibelius Academy. He also previously studied musicology at the University of Helsinki, subsequently being selected for several prestigious composition programs such as the Ensemble Modern Academy, Royaumont's Voix Nouvelles, and the Takefu masterclass. From the outset, his career has been characterised by a strong international focus; today, dividing his time between Helsinki, London, and Akashi in Japan, he maintains a distinct global perspective throughout his work.

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Räisänen’s catalogue comprises over one hundred compositions, ranging from large-scale orchestral scores and concertos to chamber and solo pieces, as well as vocal and choral works. Alongside traditional instrumentation, he frequently writes for non-Western and non-orchestral instruments, incorporates electronic sounds, and has also composed music for films and sound installations. Spanning 44 countries across the globe, his works are widely performed, broadcast, and featured on multiple commercial recordings.

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His works have been performed by prominent orchestras and ensembles worldwide, including the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, NTO Mannheim, Augsburger Philharmoniker, Filarmonica del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Orquestra Sinfônica do Recife, London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Modern, Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, Lapland Chamber Orchestra, Kymi Sinfonietta, and Luxembourg Sinfonietta. Furthermore, his music has been featured at distinguished international contemporary music festivals such as ISCM World Music Days, Gaudeamus Music Week, the MATA Festival in New York, Ultraschall Berlin, Klangspuren Schwaz, Archipel Festival, and Nordic Music Days.

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Räisänen’s works have received numerous awards, most notably the Grand Prize in the International Kaija Saariaho Organ Composition Competition (2023) for his organ concerto Pulmo and the III Prize for his marimba concerto Portal in the International Uuno Klami Composition Competition (2019). In 2021, he won both the Lux Musicae Composition Competition with the ensemble work Tele and the Tampere Piano Competition's composition competition with his piano solo work Hile. His other accolades include the II Prize in the L.I.E.D. Composition Competition (2024) for his art song cycle Min-tsuku, the II Prize in the Pirkanmaan Pinna Composition Competition (2023) for his youth orchestra work Kalalle, and the II Prize in the P. J. Hannikainen Choral Composition Competition (2022) for his choir work Kiire. Earlier in his career, he also received the Irino Prize in Japan for the work Stheno (2007) and the II Prize in the International Composition Competition “2 Agosto” in Italy (2002).

 

He has been selected for various international artist residencies, such as Tokyo Wonder Site 2011, Künstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf 2010 and Künstlerhaus Lukas 2008. In addition, Räisänen has been producing and developing the annual International Sävellyspaja Composition Masterclass since 2004, and has been teaching there since 2014.