Ceolfhoireann Náisiúnta Óige na hÉireann - orchestras

Atso Almila was born in 1953 in Helsinki, Finland, and presently lives in Kuopio. He studied trombone and orchestral conducting with Professor Jorma Panula in the Sibelius Academy of Helsinki, graduating in orchestral conducting in 1979.
Almila has been the conductor of some outstanding Finnish choirs, and was the musical director of the National Theatre of Finland between 1982 and 1995. He was principal conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra between 1987-1989 and teaches orchestral conducting in the Sibelius Academy of Helsinki. From 1995-2000 he was principal conductor of the Joensuu Orchestra, and from 1995-2000 the artistic director of the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra with whom he toured in Japan in 1997. He has toured with the Sibelius–Academy symphony to Birmingham and major Scandinavian cities. Other visits abroad to mainly Swedish, Estonian and Swiss orchestras, both symphonic and wind.

Atso has worked with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland Symphony Orchestra in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008 in Ireland, Finland and Switzerland.

While continuing to work as a teacher of conducting, he makes regular guest appearances with all major orchestras in Finland. Productions with major opera companies in Finland including the National Opera.Master of some Finnish Choirs from the Radio Symphony Choir to the Sibelius–Academy Chamber Choir in 1975-95. Musical chief of the National Theatre of Finland (drama) for fifteen years.

Almila has worked as a conductor mainly in Finland, Sweden and Estonia. He has several opera production with Finnish National Opera and elsewhere in Finland, and is renowned for his ability in big cross-over productions.

In 2001 Almila worked with the children's opera Gaia at the National Opera, Helsinki, and in May 2001 with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, and performanced his own work, Isontaloon Antti at the Opera Festival in Ilmajoki, Finland, in June.

As a composer, he has composed three operas, a symphony for brass quintet and orchestra, many concertos, chamber music for brass and other ensembles and music for theatre and film. He has recorded for TV, film and radio. He was given a five-year state scolarship for composing from 2005.

Among his classical recordings are:

Concertos for Tuba, French Horn and Trombone MILS 9651
(Oulu symphony Orchestra 1996)

Contrabasso concertante - Finlandia 3894-21450-2
(Jorma Katrama and Kuopio Symphony 1998)

Sibelius Rarities
(Kuopio Symphony 1999 - Finlandia 3984-23391-2

Piazzolla - finlandia 3984-29723-2
(Mika Vayrynen and Kuopio Symphony 2000)