Joonas Pekonen is a sought-after leader in Finland and has recently been invited to work as a concertmaster with Lahti Symphony Orchestra, the Finnish National Opera Orchestra, the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra. He also worked as the 1st concertmaster of the Oulu Symphony Orchestra during the Autumn season of 2023. In London, Pekonen is an Associate 1st violin member in the Philharmonia Orchestra, and he regularly works with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) and the Royal Northern Sinfonia (RNS).
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, the Beethovenfest Bonn in Germany and Kokkolan SyysKamari in Finland. He appeared in the ’Music of Today’ series at the Royal Festival Hall performing music by Kaija Saariaho and Hans Abrahamsen. He has had the privilege of collaborating with musicians such as Igor Yuzefovich, Simon Blendis, 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.
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.
Joonas has appeared as a soloist with the Joensuu City Orchestra, Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, and with Tallis Chamber Orchestra, with whom he performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E-minor. 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.