On Feb. 20, 2025, Finnish composer Ilkka Kuusisto died at the age of 91.

Kuusisto was born in Helsinki on April 26, 1933, and became interested in music as a teenager when he first heard jazz. He went on to study at the Sibelius Academy and studied composition with Aarre Merikanto and Nils-Eric Fougstedt.

Kuusisto began his career as a church organist and choral conductor at a parish in Meilahti from 1959 to 1972 and went on to lead several other choirs, the Etelä-Suomalaisen Osakunnan laulajista, the Akateemiseen lauluun, and the Finnish National Opera choir. He also worked with the Yle’s Radio Symphony Chorus.

During his career, Kuusisto also worked for the Finnish public broadcaster Yle and conducted the Helsinki City Theatre orchestra for most of the 1960s.

He taught at the Sibelius Academy from 1975 to 1984 and served as artistic director of a leading Finnish music publishing company, Musiikki-Fazer. He was also the General Manager of the Finnish National Opera from 1984 to 1992.

As a composer, Kuusisto was very recognized having composed 18 operas including “Moominooppera,” “Miehen kylkiluu,” “Pierrot ja yön salaisuudet,” “Isänmaan tyttäret,” “Kuninkaan sormus,” and “Taipaleenjoki.” He also composed orchestral works and film music.