Luoto, Meriheini

Meriheini Luoto (b. 1989) is a composer and performer whose works explore the boundary between improvisation and composition. She draws on intuition and a spirit of play as tools to create immersive and unpredictable music that reveal new dimensions in both the instruments and the musicians. Her work is often inspired by elements beyond music, particularly phenomena connected to nature and human nature.

Recently, she has composed music for the Finnish National Theatre’s Prima Facie and written commissioned works for several ensembles and orchestras, including the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, The Guards Band, and the violin section of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Her music has been performed at major contemporary music festivals in Finland. She also plays nyckelharpa and sings in the experimental folk duo Akkajee, which was awarded Folk Music Creator of the Year in 2022.

"This is a violinist who not only has great technique but a clear idea what she wants to do with it. Her album progresses confidently from beautiful to scary and back again." -Clive Bell, The Wire, 2017