Ari Rasilainen

Ari Rasilainen is a Professor of Orchestra Conducting at the University of Music Würzburg (HfM Würzburg), where he teaches and mentors students in the art of orchestral conducting. He is renowned as one of the outstanding conductors of his generation, with a distinguished international career spanning decades. His expertise includes classical music, opera, and chamber music performance.

• Current role: Professor at HfM Würzburg
• Email: ari.rasilainen@hfm-wuerzburg.de
• Location: Hofstallstraße, Room H 003

Rasilainen studied under legendary conductors such as Jorma Panula at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and Arvid Jansons in Berlin. His early career included positions as concertmaster of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra's second violins (1980–1986) and chief conductor roles with orchestras in Finland, Norway, and Germany, including the Lappeenranta City Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra Oslo, and German State Philharmonic Orchestra of Rhineland-Palatinate.

He has collaborated extensively with leading German radio orchestras (e.g., Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra) and international ensembles like the Slovenian Philharmonic, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria. His discography includes over 50 recordings, highlighting works by composers such as Kurt Atterberg, Aulis Sallinen, and Siegmund von Hausegger.