JUKKA NYKÄNEN (b. 1976) is known as a versatile pianist and composer, active in vocal music, opera and theatre. He has worked for instance at the Finnish National Opera, at the Helsinki City Theatre, at the Finnish National Theatre and at the Swedish Theatre in Helsinki. He has performed at the Helsinki Festival, the Espoo International Piano Week, the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival and the Turku Music Festival, and he has appeared as soloist with the Helsinki Philharmonic, the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra and the Vantaa Pops Orchestra. He is a regular commentator in TV broadcasts of concerts of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Nykänen began studying the piano with Kata Nummi at the Espoo Music Institute and went on to study with Teppo Koivisto at the Sibelius Academy, graduating with a M.Mus. degree in 2004. In December 2014, he was awarded the Suomi Prize by the Ministry of Education and Culture.