BIO
Ilkka Hammo (b. 1983) is a versatile composer, active guitarist and guitar teacher. His compositions consist mainly of instrumental music for soloists, chamber ensembles and orchestras of various sizes. His lengthy experience as an instrumentalist has a large effect on his compositions, as well as the other way around. Hammo is always looking for new areas in instrumental capacities based on both traditional and extended playing techniques.
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Ilkka Hammo's work as a composer combines free intuitional, natural musicianship and carefully polished structures. Dramatically emotional, intense textures, playful and rhythmical characters, and a strong sense of direction - these all define Hammo's style of composition. Operatic narrative is often a common thread in his instrumental compositions, even though he rarely uses programmatic elements.
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Hammo's music has been performed by e.g. The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Avanti!, ensemble recherche, Kaaos Ensemble, NYKY Ensemble, Ilmatar Duo, TampereRaw and Tampering Ensemble. The conductors like Hannu Lintu, Matthew Halls, Juha Kangas, Eero Lehtimäki, Ed Partyka, Nils Schweckendiek, Lauri Ahokas, Janne Valkeajoki, Maja Metelska and Tuomas Turriago have conducted Hammo's music. In addition, e.g. Joonatan Rautiola, Andrzej Wilkus, Aleksi Rajala and Petri Kumela have premiered his works. Hammo has performed as a composer e.g. in festivals like Korsholm Music Festival, Time of Music in Viitasaari, Kaustinen Chamber Music Week, Porvoo Summer Sounds, Sibafest, Afternoon of the Fauns by Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Ears Open 35 festival, Rencontres Musicales du Kreiz Breizh in France, KLANG concert series in Helsinki, Tampere Guitar Festival, and Tampering festival.
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Ilkka Hammo studied guitar performance in Sibelius Academy with Andrzej Wilkus, Jukka Savijoki and Ismo Eskelinen. He completed his Master’s Degree in 2011. He began his compositional studies in Sibelius Academy in 2005 with Tapio Nevanlinna, continued with Veli-Matti Puumala in 2013 and graduated with a Master’s Degree in 2015. Hammo has also studied guitar in the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar (Hochschule für Musik FRANZ LISZT Weimar) 2007-2009 with Thomas Müller-Pering.
During his studies, Ilkka Hammo has participated in several workshops and master classes in both guitar playing and composing. Among the guitar master class teachers are Àlex Garrobé, Marco Socias, Ismo Eskelinen, Timo Korhonen, John Mills and Kai Nieminen. In his composition courses his teachers have been e.g. Jouni Kaipainen, Jukka Tiensuu, Juhani Nuorvala, Miroslav Srnka and Hans Abrahamsen.
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Ilkka Hammo's studies and composition work have been supported by e.g. Martin Wegelius Foundation, Pro Musica Foundation, The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Women's Committee of the National Cultural Association, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Sibelius Fund, Madetoja Foundation and Teosto Commissions Fund. He has been a member of The Society of Finnish Composers since 2017 and a member of the Church Music Composers' Association since 2019. In 2015-2017, he was active in Tampering Society as a concert producer.
Ilkka Hammo currently lives and works in Tampere and teaches guitar playing at the Pirkanmaa Music Institute in addition to his composition work.
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