Mirka Malmi

Mirka Malmi is doing artistic research at the Uniarts Sibelius Academy, Helsinki. Her research interests include violin repertoire of historical women composers, concert culture, gender and performance studies.

Violinist Mirka Malmi’s cd Other Finnish Works for Violin (Alba Records 2021), and the coedited Music publication with the same title (Fennica Gehrman, 2021) was highly praised by the critics. She has extended experience across the violin and chamber music repertoire, especially on historical women composers. Her concert series Nainen ja Viulu (Women and the Violin) in 2018–2020 was highlighted as a cultural act of Finnish musical life. She is currently doing her artistic research at the Uniarts Sibelius Academy on the professionalism of women violinists and composers in the late 19th century, seen via the life of Amanda Maier-Röntgen (1853–1894). Her research has been funded by Koulutusrahasto KOURA, Sibelius-Akatemian tukisäätiö and Suomalais-ruotsalainen kulttuurirahasto.

Mirka Malmi performs as a violinist and a chamber musician on major music festivals and venues in Finland and her concerts are broadcasted by YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Company) on a regular basis. She has given a number of first performances including the forgotten Violin concerto Tondikt by Ida Moberg (1859–1947) and ….sicut aurora procedit for violin solo and live-electronics by composer Maija Hynninen, a piece written for her (also available at Ravello Records 2019). Her interests include cross-artistic collaborative projects, with aerialist Ilona Jäntti among others. Since 2002 Mirka Malmi holds a violin position in the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to her career as a performing violinist, Mirka Malmi is an active organizer and visionary. Her merits in this field include Janakkala Chamber Music Concerts (Artistic Leader, 2004), Interdisciplinary Biannual Veikkola Dada (Founding Partner, 2005–2015), Sääksmäki Soi! Festival (Artistic Partner, 2008–2016) and Nainen ja Viulu Concert Series (Artistic Leader 2018–2020).