Sasha Mäkilä studied at some of the most prestigious conducting schools in the world. He came to prominence after winning Third Prize in the 6th International Vakhtang Jordania Conducting Competition in USA (2006). He is much sought-after in Finland and Russia, has received scholarships from the Finnish Cultural Foundation in 2002 and 2004, and was awarded a 2007 residency in the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris.
Expert musical training is an intimate exchange of skills. "Teaching is not a one-way road," Sasha explains. "The teacher also makes a commitment to the student."
"I find teaching very rewarding," he continues. "It's full of moments of revelation - for example, when it hits home to a student that you can really 'take' the sound of the orchestra with your hands like it were living matter. That usually changes everything in the student's approach to conducting!"
He is also passionate about his own teachers: his blog hosts a series of videos and discussion of conductors who taught and influenced him. Sasha teaches conducting, score study, and interpretation in Paris, Finland or over the internet. You can see him conducting in Wroclaw here:
