Sibelius chair dies
RIPThomas Haapanen, chair of the Sibelius Competition from 1981 to 2001 and principal of the Sibelius Academy, has died aged 99.
He was known as the ‘grand old man’ of the violin, teacher of generations of Finnish players.
As a young man he was concertmaster of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Helsinki Chamber Orchestra.
Sad news. With Tuomas Haapanen’s passing away, one direct link to Sibelius is now gone.
How many musicians or composers are there left who have actually met Sibelius at his home ?