The Videos Were Released on Finnish Music Day, Which Is Celebrated on 8 December

Jean Sibelius’s birthday on 8 December is celebrated in Finland as Finnish Music Day. It became a national flag day in 2011 to commemorate Sibelius’ status as a national composer and his exceptional international significance. Sibelius is the most internationally renowned and acclaimed Finnish composer.

In connection with the day, we have released videos of the competitors’ individual performances in the first and second rounds of the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition held in May 2025. All videos are now available on our YouTube channel (Jean Sibelius Violin Competition).

Finnish music is at the very core of The Sibelius Violin Competition

The Sibelius Violin Competition aims to preserve the musical legacy of Jean Sibelius, as well as promoting the music of other Finnish composers to young international talents.

Contemporary Finnish music is regularly featured in the competition program: in the 2025 competition, Outi Tarkiainen‘s The Seasons Remembered was a mandatory piece in the second round, while in the finals, competitors could choose between Magnus Lindberg‘s Violin Concerto No. 2 and Kaija Saariaho’s Graal théâtre.

Photo: Matias Ahonen