A man of many talents: for accordionist Janne Valkeajoki, musical versatility is part of his identity
Valkeajoki has carved out an international career that breaks new ground and expands what the accordion can entail for future generations.
Recently appointed professor at the Bern Academy of the Arts in Switzerland and currently completing his doctorate at the Sibelius Academy, Valkeajoki represents a new kind of musician – one driven by curiosity and the confidence to follow it. At the centre of his wide-ranging career is a desire to understand and express music in as many different ways as possible.
A childhood spark and a “forbidden” instrument
Valkeajoki picked up the accordion at the age of five. The choice was not entirely accidental, though it was by no means obvious either, even with having accordion teachers as parents.
“The accordion was always around when I was growing up. My parents, though, tried to hold me back a bit and suggested other instruments. Maybe that’s why it fascinated me so much: it felt almost forbidden,” he says with a smile.
That fascination soon grew into a deep love for music. At the age of only twelve he joined the Sibelius Junior Academy, and, as one of the few, also took his first steps in conducting under the tutelage of Jorma Panula.
“I can’t point to a specific moment when I decided to become a professional, but already at the Junior Academy music began to feel like my calling. It wasn’t just a hobby anymore – it was something much bigger.”
From studies to international stages
Valkeajoki’s path to professional musicianship was steady rather than rushed. His academic years proved crucial in helping him discover his artistic identity.
“It was a time when I really lived and breathed music. Looking back, I’m amazed by the energy I had to dig into even the tiniest details. But that’s exactly how it should be.”
After completing his master’s degree, he went to Germany and ended up on international concert stages. Success in competitions– especially winning the Arasate Hiria competition in 2015 – gave him recognition and led to various artistic collaborations.
“For me, the value of competitions isn’t the prize itself but the process. You have to polish the music to the highest level. It’s demanding, even exhausting at times, but I’d still recommend the experience to anyone.”
Today, Valkeajoki wears many hats: his titles include accordionist, conductor, teacher, recording artist and artistic director of the Kumaus Festival. Recordings, for him, are a way of leaving a lasting artistic footprint. One of his releases, Rameau: Pièces de Clavecin, also drew international attention when it made The New York Times list of the best recordings of 2024.
“I strive for versatility, and I feel that the different roles really do support one another. The accordion teaches you an intimate understanding of detail, while conducting sharpens your analytical side. And working in the festival world teaches you to think in terms of the bigger picture.”
The accordion as an instrument of the future
The accordion is often associated with folk traditions or seen as a somewhat old-fashioned instrument, but Valkeajoki is keen to challenge that notion. For him, the accordion is an instrument that is both rooted in its origins and forward-looking.
“Accordionists tend to share a certain attitude: we want to do things thoroughly, with curiosity, and to keep the joy of playing at the centre of everything. That’s our strength.”
Researcher and artist in one
Valkeajoki has recently stepped into the world of research, as well, by beginning doctoral studies at the Sibelius Academy. Throughout his career, he has performed a great deal of new music, commissioning and premiering works by composers for whom the accordion was unfamiliar territory. His artistic doctorate will combine concerts, a recording and written research, focusing on the relationship between the performer and the composer.
“That interaction is hugely inspiring. I’m fascinated by how two very different crafts – composing and performing – come together, how they shape the process of creating a piece, and how the work itself may evolve when the performer brings their personal expertise to it.”
Encouragement for young musicians
Although still young, Valkeajoki has already built an impressive track record. He believes success begins with the courage to go out and do it.
“If music is your passion and you’re thinking of making a career out of it, just go for it – don’t hold back. Right now there is work for professional accordionists. What’s needed is the courage to follow your own path. If I could tell my 19-year-old self anything, it would be: don’t overthink it. Do what feels right. It will take you where you need to go.”
Valkeajärvi’s relishes the variety of his life, despite his busy schedule as a professor in Switzerland and work as a festival director, artist and doctoral researcher.
“Keeping everything together requires good planning and self-discipline, but it’s rewarding. Working in so many different areas fuels creativity. Versatility is the accordionist’s superpower. For me, it’s both an inspiration and a core part of who I am.”
Who?
Janne Valkeajoki
- Professor, Bern Academy of the Arts (HKB) in Switzerland
- Doctoral researcher, Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy
- Accordionist, conductor and artistic director of the Kumaus Festival