Tatu Kauppinen, born in 2000, stands as one of the most prominent Finnish cellists of his generation. His musical journey has brought him into the prestigious Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, where he started his studies in February 2023. Tatu Kauppinen won the first prize in Finland’s nationally renowned Turku Cello Competition in 2022. He was also awarded the audience prize and a special prize for the best performance of the competition’s commissioned piece.

Known as a dedicated and passionate chamber musician, he has performed at various festivals across Finland and Europe, including the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, Festival de Pâques Aix-en-Provence, and Naantali Music Festival. Tatu grew up in a family of musicians and started his cello studies at the age of 7 at the Central Helsinki Music Institute. From there he continued to the Sibelius Junior Academy, and finally the Sibelius Academy’s Bachelor programme. In addition to being a scholarship holder at the Karajan Academy and being mentored there by Martin Löhr, he is studying at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock under the guidance of Prof. Natalie Clein. His previous teachers include Helli Seppä, Tuomas Lehto, Hannu Kiiski, and Marko Ylönen. He has been deeply influenced by masterclasses with artists such as Arto Noras, Ola Karlsson, Nils Mönkemeyer, and the Meta4 Quartet.

As a soloist, he has appeared with orchestras such as the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Norddeutsche Philharmonie Rostock, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra and Joensuu City Orchestra. In addition to regularly playing in the cello group of the Berlin Philharmonic, Tatu has played with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the Finnish Radio Orchestra, substituting for the position of principal cellist in both.

Kauppinen plays a Pierre & Hippolyte Silvestre cello from 1838, generously loaned to him by a private donor.