Tomi Räisänen, born in 1976, is a Finnish composer who divides his time between Helsinki, London, and Akashi, Japan. He studied composition at the Sibelius Academy and previously pursued musicology at the University of Helsinki. Additionally, he has furthered his education by participating in various international masterclasses in composition.

 

Räisänen's output consists of over one hundred compositions, ranging from solo to chamber music, vocal and choral works, and large-scale orchestral pieces, including concertos. Besides writing for traditional classical instruments, he is also interested in composing for non-orchestral and non-Western instruments. His compositions frequently involve electronic sounds, and he has created music for films and sound installations. His music is widely performed and broadcast in 44 countries across the globe and released on several recordings. 

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His music has been performed by orchestras like Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, NTO Mannheim, Augsburger Philharmoniker, Orquestra Sinfônica do Recife, Filarmonica del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Modern, Kymi Sinfonietta, Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, Lapland Chamber Orchestra and Luxemboug Sinfonietta.

 

His works have received numerous awards: In 2024, Art Song Cycle Min-tsuku was awarded the II prize in the L.I.E.D. Composition Competition. Organ Concerto Pulmo won the Grand Prize in the International Kaija Saariaho Organ Composition Competition 2023. The same year, the youth orchestra work Kalalle won the II Prize in the Pirkanmaan Pinna Composition Competition. In 2022, the choir work Kiire got the II Prize in the P. J. Hannikainen Choral Composition Competition. In 2021, Räisänen won two composition competitions: The Lux Musicae Composition Competition with the ensemble work Tele and the Composition Competition for the Tampere Piano Competition with his piano solo work Hile. In 2019, Marimba Concerto Portal was awarded the III Prize and it won the Audience Prize in the International Uuno Klami Composition Competition. In 2007, Räisänen won the Irino Prize in Japan with work Stheno, and in 2002 he was awarded the II Prize in the International Composition Competition 2 Agosto in Italy. 

 

He has been selected for several international artist residencies such as Tokyo Wonder Site 2011, Künstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf 2010 and Künstlerhaus Lukas 2008. Räisänen has been teaching in the annual Sävellyspaja Composition Masterclass since 2014. 

 

Composing and commissions supported by (in alphabetical order): Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Arts Council of Finland, Arts Council of Helsinki Metropolitan Region, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, City of Helsinki Cultural Office, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Finnish Music Foundation (MES), Goethe Institut, Greta and William Lehtinen Foundation, Kone Foundation, Kulturfonden för Sverige och Finland, Madetoja Foundation, Meir Rimon Commissioning Assistance Program of the International Horn Society, Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse, Pro Musica Foundation, Sibelius Fund, Teosto, Uusimaa Regional Fund.