1. Okko Kamu's father played double bass in the Helsinki Philharmonic.
15 Facts About Okko Kamu
1. 2.
Okko Kamu began violin studies at age two and entered the Sibelius Academy at age six.
3.
Okko Kamu formed his own string quartet, the Suhonen, in 1964 where he played first violin.
4.
Okko Kamu then began to conduct, initially with the Finnish National Opera orchestra.
5.
From 1971 to 1977, Okko Kamu was principal conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
6.
Outside of Finland, Okko Kamu was principal conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic from 1975 to 1979.
7.
Okko Kamu has held leadership positions with the Stockholm Sinfonietta.
8.
Okko Kamu has been chief guest conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic, the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, and the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra.
9.
Okko Kamu was principal guest conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra until 2017.
10.
Okko Kamu was chief conductor of the Finnish National Opera from 1996 to 2000.
11.
Okko Kamu has been a noted conductor of the operas of Aulis Sallinen in the opera house where he conducted the premieres of The Red Line, King Lear and The Palace, and on record.
12.
Okko Kamu conducted the premieres of Sallinen's 2nd and 3rd symphonies, and has recorded others.
13.
Okko Kamu has recorded more than 100 discs for various labels, such as Finlandia and Musica Sveciae.
14.
In 1994, Okko Kamu became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.
15.
Okko Kamu was awarded the Order of the Lion of Finland medal in 1999 by then president of Finland Martti Ahtisaari.