Joonas Pekonen is a versatile young violinist currently residing in London. He enjoys an active freelance career in the UK, and plays regularly with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Joonas was invited to work as the 1st concertmaster of the Oulu Symphony Orchestra for the Autumn season of 2023. In the Spring of 2024, he will work as the guest leader in both the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra.
Born in Finland, Joonas attended the Sibelius Academy Junior Department and later continued his studies with Merit Palas and Tero Latvala. After completing his Bachelor’s degree, he received scholarships to continue his studies with Krysia Osostowicz at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He graduated with distinction and a Concert Recital Diploma in 2022. Joonas successfully auditioned for the prestigious LSO String Experience Scheme in 2021, and he is also a former participant of the Finnish National Opera’s Apprenticeship Programme.
As a chamber musician Joonas has appeared on a variety of festivals both in his native Finland and abroad. These include IMS Prussia Cove ‘Open Chamber’, JAM on the Marsh, and the ROSL Summer Place Festival in the UK, Aurora Festival in Sweden and Sounds of Luosto Festival, Kokkolan Syyskamari, Flow Festival and Fiskars Summer Music in Finland. He has had the privilege of collaborating with musicians such as Louise Hopkins, Marko Ylönen, Caroline Palmer, David Waterman and Thomas Riebl to name a few. Joonas was the first violinist of the Picea Quartet, with whom he won the St James’ Chamber Prize of 2021. The quartet studied with Levon Chilingirian and Ursula Smith.
Joonas has appeared as a soloist with the Joensuu City Orchestra, Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, and recently with Tallis Chamber Orchestra, with whom he performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. He plays on an Anonymous “Antonio Stradivari 1699” violin, generously loaned to him by the Finnish Cultural Foundation. He is thankful for the generous support from the Martin Wegelius Memorial Foundation and the Jenny & Antti Wihuri Foundation.