Singapore International Music Competition

Dr. Linda Hedlund (Finland)

Founder,
Emäsalo Music Festival

Dr. Linda Hedlund graduated from the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, in 2002 and went on to complete her doctorate in violin performance from the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, in 2010. Since 2019 she has specialised in baroque violin performance at Novia University of Applied Sciences in Finland. Dr. Hedlund has been successful in various competitions and has worked as concertmaster at the Pacific Music Festival Japan (1999) with Michael Tilson Thomas and with Tapiola Sinfonietta (2004). She has also played with some of the main orchestras in Europe and Asia and has appeared as leader/soloist with Sinfonia da Camera Finlandia, the Austrian Chamber Orchestra, various baroque ensembles and recording projects.

As an international performing artist, Dr. Hedlund appears as both soloist and chamber musician, partnering with principal players of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and pianist prof. Oliver Kern for chamber music. She has performed as soloist with La Tempesta orchestra, Istanbul Milli Insurance Orchestra, Vogtland Philharmonie, Wegelius Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Borromini, Les Solistes de Monte Carlo, Presidential Orchestra of Northern Cyprus, Austrian Chamber Orchestra, Lohja City Orchestra, Kauniainen City Orchestra and OSUEL Symphony orchestra in Brazil. Dr. Hedlund has also been frequently invited as guest artist and faculty in prestigious festivals including Helsinki Festival (Finland), Musica Nova (Helsinki), Grafenegg Festival (Austria), Nancyphonies (France), Honart Festival Konzerthaus Wien, Teatro Bibiena, Mantova and in Carnegie Hall, New York. Her performances have been broadcasted on radio and TV in Finland (Yle), Rai TV 3, Turkish state television, RSI/Arte in Switzerland, Radio Classic, Borusan radio, Czech Republic (Radio Free Europe), in Austria (ORF) and in the US (WFMT).

In addition to her career as a performing artist, she is active as a pedagogue, and has given master classes in USA University of Hawaii, Cervo Master Classes in Italy, South-America and Asia. Dr. Hedlund has recorded numerous CDs since 2008. Her acclaimed debut (issued under the Finnish label Fuga) saw collaboration with pianist Oliver Kern in sonatas by Franck, Saint-Saëns and Debussy. In 2011, another album with guitarist Otto Tolonen was released by Classic Concert Music Group, Salzburg and in 2019, Tango Intimamente with tango arrangements for violin and harp together with Floraleda Sacchi was recorded with Amadeus Arte. Subsequently, a critically acclaimed album with music for violin and orchestra by George de Godzinsky was released in 2021 by Naxos and she is now recording a new upcoming album with premiere recordings of Finnish music for violin and orchestra.

Dr. Hedlund is also the founder of Emäsalo Music Festival which takes place each summer in southern Finland since 2007.