Opera singer and creative director Jussi Merikanto holds a Master of Music degree from the Sibelius Academy of Opera. Merikanto began his career as a performing artist with the Cantores Minores boys’ choir and then studied classical solo singing at the Kuopio Conservatory before joining the Sibelius Academy.

Jussi Merikanto made his debut with the Finnish National Opera in spring 2009 as Papageno in Mozart’s Magic Flute. From 2013 to 2016, Merikanto was a member of the Finnish National Opera’s soloist corps as a baritone soloist, and from 2019 to 2021 as an opera singer. Merikanto made his debut at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in 1992 as one of the three boys in Mozart’s Magic Flute, and has since appeared at various operas in Savonlinna for several years.

In addition to his operatic roles, Merikanto has performed in numerous sacred works, including Bach’s St. John Passion as bass soloist under Peter Schreier and in lied recitals in Finland and abroad. Merikanto has achieved success in singing competitions in the Salmela Art Centre Merikanto Song Competition, where he was awarded second prize in 2009. In 2006, he was awarded a scholarship from the Eero Rantala Fund in the Timo Mustakallio Song Contest.

In addition to the Turku Music Festival, Jussi Merikanto is the artistic director of the Joroinen Music Festival and the Nurmes Christmas Music Festival. Jussi Merikanto has been studying Arts Management at Sibelius Academy since autumn 2019.