Olli Moilanen (b. 1987) is a Helsinki-based composer. He is fascinated by the tension between musical structures and free association in composition. The imagery sparked by music is an essential guiding force in his compositional process. Wondering at the world is an important value to him: he is interested in all forms of art and has collaborated with professionals in visual arts, literature, dance, and film. Improvisation on electric guitar and other instruments at hand is a significant part of his life.
In recent years, his music has been premiered by, among others, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Chamber Choir, defunensemble, the American Modern Ensemble, and violinist Maria Puusaari. His work “Paralysis” was recently selected from the Finnish Composers’ recommendation list for the next ISCM World New Music Days 2024 festival in the Faroe Islands. His music has also been performed at other international festivals: Nordic Music Days 2018, Mostly Modern Festival New York 2022, NeoArte Festival 2022 (Poland), Brand Neu Orgelsommer 2022 (Germany), and Numus 2023 (Canada).
He is currently working on commissioned compositions for accordionist Veli Kujala and the saxophone quartet Saxtronauts, supported by the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation. His previous work has been supported by the Uusimaa Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Arts Promotion Centre Finland, and the Finnish Music Foundation.
Notable cross-disciplinary projects include the Seikka performance series curated in collaboration with the Nuoren Voiman Liitto for future Runokuu festivals, the “Hän kirjoittaa” performance created with choreographer Eeva Juutinen for the Uniarts Festival 2023, and organizing and performing in Salakuuntelu-klubi performances, which combined music, poetry, visual arts, and dance, produced by the Central Finland Writers’ Union from 2014 to 2018.
Moilanen graduated with excellent grades from the Sibelius Academy with a major in composition in the spring of 2022, studying under Juhani Nuorvala and Veli-Matti Puumala. Shortly after his graduation, he was awarded a recognition grant from the Pro Musica Foundation and the Martin Wegelius Memorial Foundation.