Leif Segerstam

Leif Segerstam, born in 1944, is one of the most versatile and interesting musical talents in the Nordic countries. After studies in violin, piano, composition and conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki 1952-63 he continued with post-graduate studies at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. His initial career as a conductor started with positions in the opera houses of Helsinki, Stockholm and West Berlin, and guest appearances included the Met, La Scala, Covent Garden, Teatro Colón and the opera houses of Cologne, Hamburg and Munich, Geneva and the Salzburg Festival. More about Leif here.

Since autumn 1997, Leif Segerstam has been Acting Professor of Conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He agreed to do an interview with ConductIT’s Jukka Iisakkila, and happily shared his thoughts on the role of the conductor.