LEAD Foundation

We are excited to have these two thinkers and many others join us in Bergen for the next LEAD! Lab for conductors and composers! 🤩

The applications are still open, and the deadline is Sunday 27th of September. Apply now: https://forms.gle/x5WzKo5iLxWbn5Eh9

📷 Antti-Jussi Kaikuru

We are moving in to our new office! 🤩

LEAD! Foundation now has a headquarters from where we are able to create new opportunities for musicians and build an international community around musical excellence and professional growth.

Here’s to the next chapter of LEAD! Foundation! 🥂

We are excited to announce a brand new LEAD! Lab for conductors and composers, this time in Bergen, Norway! 🤩

LEAD! – Lab for Composers & Conductors is a three-day professional development workshop taking place in Bergen, Norway, on 8–10 December 2026. Bringing together 5 emerging composers and 5 conductors, the Lab explores collaboration between composers, conductors and professional ensembles.

The artistic faculty includes composer Magnus Lindberg, conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and industry mentors Sarah Osa and Paul Hughes. Organised in collaboration with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lab takes place alongside the orchestra’s rehearsals for Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony and Lindberg’s new concerto. Through open rehearsals, individual sessions, discussions and career-development seminars, participants gain insight into the professional orchestral environment and the process of bringing new music from score to stage.

Applications are now open! Read more and apply here: https://forms.gle/szUzeDZQa3enZZcG9

Photo credits: Saara Vuorijoki, Felix Broede

What makes our festival special? Among other things it's the warm, welcoming atmosphere, a friendly smile when arriving to the rehearsals in the morning, and great food.

A heartfelt thank you to the Fiskars Martha Association for taking such great care of us once again. Your generosity and hospitality make the Fiskars Summer Festival feel like home. ❤️

And that's a wrap for Fiskars Summer Festival 2026! 🤩

We want to thank all our young musicians and conductors representing over 25 different countries, our instrumental and conducting mentors, amazing soloists and , and everyone who came to see our concerts and supported our festival. And a special thank you to Turku Music Festival for having us as part of their festival!

We can't wait to see you all again in 2027!

Sunnuntai oli tulkintojen juhlaa Konserttitalolla ⚡️

Turun konserttitalon otti haltuun Fiskars Festival Orchestra, johtajinaan Jukka-Pekka Saraste ja LEAD! Foundation Finland -mestarikurssin nuori kapellimestari 2026, Nina Haug. Solistina kuultiin häikäisevä Karen Cargill ✨

Konsertti oli vauhdikas matka neljän säveltäjän maailmaan klassikoista nykyhetkeen, jossa Beethovenin dramaattisesta jännitteestä edettiin Wagnerin herkkyyteen ja sisäiseen kaipuuseen. Tarkiaisen energinen teos ravisteli, ja Dvořákin sinfonia nosti yleisön kohti valoa ja vapauttavaa huipennusta 🌅

Kiitos Jukka-Pekka, Karen, Nina, Fiskars Festival Orchestra ja LEAD! 🩷

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TMJ jatkuu keskiviikkona Sibelius-museossa:
📅 Ke 5.8. klo 19
🔹 Anton Mejias
📍 Sibelius-museo

Liput: https://turunmusiikkijuhlat.fi/tapahtuma/anton-mejias

Tervetuloa! 🎶

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Today is a big day especially for our young conductors! This evening they will lead Fiskars Festival Orchestra in our Open House Concert with a programme of Mozart, Sibelius, Britten and Beethoven. They will share the stage with our fabulous soloists Otto Antikainen and Karen Cargill!

We've had an amazing first days of the Fiskars Summer Festival! Here are a few photos from

Remember that our Open House Concert is on Sat 1.8. at 19:00! Our young conductors will lead the Fiskars Festival Orchestra for a programme of Mozart, Sibelius, Britten and Beethoven, and they will be joined by our fabulous soloists Otto Antikainen and Karen Cargill.

📷 Paul Hughes