Janne Ikonen Komponist

Mr. Janne Ikonen (b. in1975, in Lieksa) started his career in music with tenor horn at the Pielinen-Karjala Music Institute and in the Lieksa Youth Wind Band. Later his instruments were changed to tuba and percussions.

Mr. Janne Ikonen studies classical composing at the Sibelius Academy as a student of Erkki Jokinen and is finishing his percussion studies at the Keski-Suomen Konservatorio, Jyväskylä. He teaches drums and percussion at the University of Jyväskylä and music school of Ala-Keitele. He has been the conductor of the Jyväskylä university symphony orchestra from 1997 to 2000, the conductor of Ala-Keitele grand symphony orchestra (1998-2000), 2nd conductor of the wind band “Puhkupillit”(1995-1998), and acted as a rehearsal director and guest conductor at several wind orchestras among others the Jyväskylä city orchestra, Jyväskylä chamber orchestra, the wind band of the Finnish Air Force and the Academic Brass Band.

Ikonen acted as the regular assistant percussionist at the Jyväskylä city orchestra at 1997-2000, and has performed with several other orchestras. Mr. Janne Ikonen is from Lieksa (the host town for the world renowned Lieksa Brass Week), so his experience of brass music has started understandably at a very young age.
He started his musicians career as the Lieksa Youth Wind Orchestra 2nd euphonium and later switched to tuba. His co-operation with the LNPO and Pielisen – Karjalan music school is still vibrant, which has produced many of his youth wind orchestra compositions. Most of his compositions have originally been created for a youth orchestra and especially during the last few years he has made lots of introductory material for aspiring young bands.

Since 2003 Mr Ikonen has lived and worked in Rantasalmi. He has educated and conducted several orchestras and ensembles, and has worked as a teacher in different schools and institutes.

Mr Ikonen has played percussion in various symphony orhestras (e.g. the philharmonic orchestras of Jyväskylä, Oulu, Joensuu and Mikkeli) and in several military bands. He is performing regularly with different ensembles.
Mr Ikonen had his first composition concert during Lieksa Brass Week in 2003. Most of his works are composed for wind and brass bands. Additionally he has composed i.a. three musicals, chamber music and has made a great number of arrangements for different ensembles.