Biography / Biografia - Suomi

Mervi Myllyoja is an outstanding Finnish musician with a bright and versatile musical profile. Apart from being a convincing interpret of classical violin repertoire, she is highly appreciated in various other musical genres that require playing in an improvisatory manner, without printed music. Mervi's charming cantilene-playing and strong individual style have impressed audiences in Finland and abroad. She has become a regular performer in Hermopolia Festival; Greece, and made debuts also in Siberia (International Music Festival of Perm) and at the Internationale Meisterkonzerte in Brackenheim; Germany, Bach-week of Helsinki, Orgelfesttage of Cologne, Cathedral of Soissons; France, St. Joseph of Bonn-Beule, Germany and Gergiev Festival, Mikkeli as a guest artist of the great concert organist Kalevi Kiviniemi.

Mervi was born 1976 in Turku, Finland. Inspired by her music-teacher mother, started her musical career as a three-year-old by making a recording of childrens' songs. Soon after she made her choice of instrument and “the small guitar” i.e. violin was bought to her when she was five years old. Later on she studied in Turku Conservatory with the famous violinist and professor Alexander Vinitskiy. After post graduate studies in Sweelinck Conservatory, Amsterdam, she dedicated several years to violin pedagogy. She has taught her violin class in Rauma Music Institute and been an assistant to her professor A. Vinitskiy, who carries the golden violin school tradition of the legendary David Oistrakh.

Mervi has performed as a solist of orchestra and several choirs, worked as a violin pedagogue in Rauma Music Institute since 2003, and led festival performances aswell as charity concerts. She plays regularly with pianists Virva Garam and Dmitry Pavlov (Finnish National Opera). She is working with the most remarkable artists and musicians in Finland, the concert organist Kalevi Kiviniemi, singer Tarja Turunen and baritone Jorma Hynninen among the best ones. She performed as a solo violinist on the Christmas Tour 2010 of Barbara Hendricks, and very recently she has participated in a recording made with the Metropolitan star, great bass-baritone Juha Uusitalo.

Mervi plays the violin built in 1890 by Emil Hjorth, a master from the famous Danish violinmaker dynasty. The traditions of Emil Hjorth & Sonner dates back to the year 1789.