Aulis Sallinen
Biography
Aulis Sallinen was born in 1935 in Salmi (in Finland until 1944). He played violin and piano as a child. Further studies included work with Aarre Merikanto and Joonas Kokkonen at the Sibelius Academy, where he later taught. Aulis has received honorary doctorates from the universities of both Helsinki and Turku.
In 1981 he was made Professor of Arts for life by the Finnish Government to enable him to devote all his time to composing. His compositions include operas, numerous works for orchestra and music for chamber ensembles, voice, chorus and solo instruments.