Alumnin tarina
Claudio Constantini
Professional life after studying in Lahti
After graduating as concert pianist from Lahti polytechnic, I moved to Rotterdam, The Netherlands, actually to study a completely different instrument: the bandoneón. I had started learning it autodidactically while I was living in Lahti and I decided that I wanted to develop further as a bandoneonist and have it as a parallel, equally important element in my life as the piano. I studied two years for my Bachelor's education in Rotterdam.
In the meanwhile I considered doing a master's degree in piano performance and coincidentally there was a very reknown teacher in Rotterdam: Aquiles Delle Vigne, a disciple of Claudio Arrau and Gyorgy Cziffra (two of the most legendary performers in recent musical history). Aquiles Delle Vigne's class includes some of the most active young musicians in the concert and competition scenes, with more than 100 pupils of his as prize winners of international competitions. I applied to his class and got accepted. Furthermore, I got awarded with a very prestigious scholarship from the Dutch Government, the HSP Huygens scholarship; a huge scholarship which covers all of my expenses (including living and rent) for the period of 2 years of my full Master Degree studies. Therefore, I am allowed to concentrate fully on my studies, without having to work at the same time. I play often in concerts mainly in the Netherlands, Belgium and France, and I actively keep playing the bandoneon in concerts with my own ensembles for which I compose and arrange music.
My studies in Lahti and it's influence
I came to Lahti in the year 2002, not knowing exactly what to expect since I knew little of Finland and of it's educative system. My impressions were all good; the school was still situated at the building of the present Konservatorio and Felix Krohn hall, and there were plenty of rooms to practice with very good pianos. Later it moved to it's present site and there were even better, new pianos, plus a new, well-planned architecture with a good practice space, and most importantly, with an excellent education. I found the performance and teaching level exceptionally high throughout my studies. My own piano teachers (at first Lauri Väinmaa and later Raija Kerppo) were fantastic. At this moment I can very clearly see the positive influence this all has given to me in my artistic life.
Highlights were the possibilities of playing regularly for other students at the chamber music hall, and even to organize your own concerts if you'd like. Of course, another very important highlight for me was the possibility to listen live every week one of the top orchestras in Europe: Sinfonia Lahti. The very quiet and relaxed atmosphere of the city gave way to concentrate well on one's studies, and if well managed, it could be taken to one's advantage.