Conductor Search – Ylioppilaskunnan Soittajat (YS)
Ylioppilaskunnan Soittajat (YS), unofficially Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra, is looking for a new conductor, starting from January 2027. The application deadline is August 4th, 2026.
YS is a full-size symphony orchestra operating within the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. Its roots go back to 1747, when ‘Akateeminen Kapelli’ – the first orchestra in Finland – was established under the auspices of the Turku Academy, the first Finnish university and the predecessor of the University of Helsinki. In 1926, this orchestral activity was reorganized, leading to the establishment of Ylioppilaskunnan Soittajat. During its 100 year history, YS has been conducted by Toivo Haapanen, Jussi Jalas, Erik Cronvall, Leif Segerstam, Kari Tikka, Ilpo Mansnerus, Ylermi Poijärvi, Alf Nybo, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Petri Sakari, Markus Lehtinen, Tuomas Pirilä, Michael Adelson, John Storgårds, Tuomas Rousi, Jyri Nissilä, David Searle, Mikk Murdvee, Tomas Djupsjöbacka and Aku Sorensen.
The members of the orchestra are mainly students at the University of Helsinki, but there are also students from other educational institutions in the Helsinki metropolitan area as well as alumni of the universities. Although YS is an amateur orchestra, all members have a passionate attitude to their playing, and a notable portion have progressed to almost professional level in their music hobby.
The members run everything in the orchestra: among other tasks, they decide on the concert programs (together with the conductor) and take care of the organization of the concerts. To finance the activities, members play in hired gigs for smaller ensembles or a salon orchestra. Typically, YS prepares one main concert program for the autumn season and one for the spring season, with concerts in November/December and April/May both within and outside the Helsinki metropolitan area. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 6 pm to 9 pm in central Helsinki, but due to the unclear future of The Old Student House, we might have to move the rehearsal day to Wednesday. In addition to weekly rehearsals, a rehearsal weekend will be held a few weeks before the concerts.
Job description and requirements
Our next conductor should have solid experience in conducting and rehearsing a symphony orchestra, artistic vision, an artistic approach to their work, as well as enthusiasm and motivation to work with an amateur orchestra. In addition, we require commitment to YS training schedules on Monday (/Wednesday) evenings. Formal qualification in orchestral conducting is considered an advantage but is not a prerequisite.
The conductor of YS also serves as a member of the YS board and participates in the practical matters of the orchestra: planning, and when relevant, implementation. YS does not have an actual artistic director, but rather, artistic guidelines are reflected upon in the Artistic Committee (TaiTo, Taiteellinen toimikunta), which consists of the conductor, the chair of the orchestra, a representative of the concertmasters, and members elected annually from various instrumental groups. The concert program, based on TaiTo's proposal, will be decided by the YS General Assembly twice a year.
The conductor is elected for a one-year period at a time in accordance with the official rules of the association, but ideally our next conductor would be prepared to stay with us for a few years. The conductor is paid a fee per rehearsal (90 €) as well as a slightly higher fee for concerts (275 €).
The retiring YS-conductor Aku Sorensen describes:
“Working with YS over the years has been an immense gift. This enthusiastic and talented organization has been my first 'own' orchestra, as it was for many of my predecessors, and collaboration with them is an incredible opportunity to grow together. This is a group that loves what they do, and being a part of that is both tremendously fun and artistically rewarding.”
How to apply
Send a free-form application where you introduce yourself and explain why you are interested in conducting Ylioppilaskunnan Soittajat. The application must include your exact contact information and CV. If desired, you may accompany your application by recommendations or video material on your conducting. Applications are submitted electronically to the chair of YS by August 4th, 2026, to puheenjohtaja@ys.fi.
The board of YS will interview suitable applicants in week 33. On the basis of the applications and interviews, a selected number of applicants are invited to the tryouts. The tryouts will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, starting at 1 p.m., in Helsinki. The work to be conducted is Jean Sibelius’ Symphony no 1. The conductor will be elected by the General Assembly of the association on August 31, 2026. The new conductor will begin rehearsing YS in January 2027 but they are welcome to participate in our meetings, parties, auditions etc. as soon as they are elected.
For more information, please contact:
Eevi Hakala, chairperson
+358 40 9610138
Aku Sorensen, conductor
+358 40 1299919