Siba Talks interview series

Published 28.5.2025 | Updated 6.10.2025

About the series

Siba Talks is a public interview series that brings together eminent figures from the remarkable Sibelius Academy community and inspiring artists from the Finnish and international music scenes. Hosted by pianist and Lecturer in Lied Keval Shah – also known as an innovative broadcaster and BBC presenter – the series invites guests to reflect on their lives and careers while sharing the music that means the most to them.

Each year, four guests take part in the series. The format combines an English-language interview with musical excerpts chosen by the guest. All episodes are available afterward on the Sibelius Academy’s YouTube channel.

Siba Talks episodes

Siba Talks: Keval Shah & Susanna Mälkki

Susanna Mälkki, conductor and the new Professor of Orchestral Conducting at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, studied cello at Edsbergs Musikinstitut in Sweden, the Royal Academy of Music in London, and the Sibelius Academy. She graduated with a Master’s degree from the Sibelius Academy, first as a cellist in 1995 and later as a conductor in 1999.

Appointed as an Honorary Doctor of the University of the Arts in 2024, Mälkki performs with leading orchestras across Europe, North America, and Asia, as well as at all major opera houses.

Watch the episode with Susanna Mälkki

Siba Talks: Keval Shah & Maija Kauhanen

Maija Kauhanen, the folk musician, singer-songwriter, and kantele artist, who won the Nordic Council Music Prize in 2023, is the guest. Kauhanen is an explosive and versatile one-woman orchestra who has quickly built an impressive international career. At the heart of her art lies the Finnish-Karelian tradition, with its instruments, playing techniques, and vocal styles.

Watch the episode with Maija Kauhanen

Siba Talks: Keval Shah & Sebastian Fagerlund

Sebastian Fagerlund has established himself as one of the most significant European composers of his generation. He studied composition under Erkki Jokinen at the Sibelius Academy, earning his composition diploma in 2004.

Watch the episode with Sebastian Fagerlund

About the host

British-Indian pianist Keval Shah (b. 1993) is celebrated for the intellectual and creative depth of his artistic vision. A laureate of multiple international competitions, Shah has performed at many of Europe’s major concert halls and festivals, and has recorded for labels including Deutsche Grammophon.

Alongside successes in the traditional field, Keval is a pioneer in concert design and curation, regularly commissioning contemporary music and building artistic projects that mix different genres, cultures, and philosophies. His musical practice is guided by a fascination with cross-cultural and multi-cultural processes, and the artistic and social possibilities which can be found therein.

Alongside his work at the Sibelius Academy, Keval frequently works as a broadcaster at the BBC, most recently presenting a documentary about Kaija Saariaho’s final projects.