Okko Kamu
Conductor
Okko Kamu was born in Helsinki and initially served as the first concertmaster of the Finnish National Opera. In 1969 he won the 1st prize in the first-ever Herbert von Karajan Conductors Competition, which launched him into an international career spanning more than 50 years working with the world's leading orchestras.
Kamu has worked as chief conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Finnish National Opera and Lahti Symphony Orchestra. He also has long-term working relationships abroad including with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
Kamu is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music and was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal in 1999.
You can see Okko Kamu in action on Thursday 22 August at The New Zealand Herald Premier Series: Vengerov & Sibelius