Biography
Studies
Tapio Lappalainen completed a master’s degree in composition at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg 2007, where his composition professor was Adriana Hölszky. Lappalainen also has a diploma in Music Theory from Oulu Conservatory 2002, where his composition professor was Vesa Valkama.
Lappalainen completed master’s degree in Music Technology from the University of the Arts / Sibelius-Academy 2014, where his music technology professor was Andrew Bentley.
He has taken part in Summer Courses of contemporary music and music technology in Darmstadt, Germany and at the CCRMA at the CNMAT –centers in California, USA.
Performances
His compositions have been performed by the Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Oulu Symphony, The Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Duo Gelland and Pohja Military Band among others.
Works of Lappalainen have been performed in many festivals in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Sweden for example Aspekte (Salzburg, Austria), Nordic Music Days (Copenhagen, Denmark), Time of Music (Viitasaari, Finland), Uuden Musiikin Lokakuu (Oulu, Finland) and Ung Nordisk Music (Göteborg, Sweden and Reykjavik, Iceland).
Prizes, Grants and Scholarships
The symphony orchestra composition " Water", co-composed with Sanna Ahvenjärvi, won the Teosto Prize in 2023. The work was commissioned by the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and premiered at the Tampere Biennale 2022 Festival with Rebecca Tong as conductor.
He has got Grants from the Arts Council of Finland, the Culture Ministry of Luxembourg, Art Committee of Province of Oulu, Art Committee of City of Oulu, the Sibelius –Foundation of the Society of Finnish Composers, Alfred Kordelin –foundation, and the Sylvi Kekkonen –Foundation. Tapio Lappalainen was a Composer-in-Residence in “Kommandantenhaus der Bergfeste Dilsberg” in Germany.
Teaching Experience
Lappalainen has been teaching at the Jokilaaksot Music Institute since 2005 music theory, solfeggio, composition and arranging a for children and youth. He has been teaching also music technology at the Jokilaaksot Music Institute since 2008.
He has teaching experience also from the University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences and Oulu Conservatory.
Memberships
Lappalainen is a member of the following organizations:
- Vice Chairman of society of contemporary music October (Nykymusiikkiseura Lokakuu)
- Society of Finnish Composers
- Acoustical Society of Finland
Summer Workshops
Darmstadt International Summer Courses for New Music 2006 and 2004
Ferneyhough, Hölszky, Hosokawa, Poppe, Furrer, André, Cernowin
Time of Musik Summer Festival in Viitasaari, Finland
David Moss 2016
James Clarke and Esa-Pekka Salonen 2000
Helmut Lachenmann 1998
Jukka Tiensuu 1997
Paavo Heininen 1994
Brian Ferneyhough 1993
Johan Willgren Festival in Orivesi, Finland
Alexander Müllenbach 2000
Komponistmöte Nordkalotten 2003 in Torshavn, Faroe Islands
Olav-Anton Thommesen, The Norwegian Academy of Music
Komponistmöte Nordkalotten 2002 in, Oulu, Finnland
Jouni Kaipainen, Pirkanmaa Polytechnik
Komponistmöte Nordkalotten 2001 in Piteå, Sweden
Rolf Martinsson, Malmö Academy of Music
Jan Sandström, Piteå School of Music