This multiple award-winning pianist, Born in 1970, is considered »Finland’s most internationally renowned jazz musician« (Jazz Finland). As a »natural phenomenon on the keys« (Jazzthing) Iiro Rantala is a singular master of his instrument, able to expertly combine virtuosity with intelligence, emotion and humour.

Rantala studied Jazz Piano at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, as well as classical piano at the Manhattan School of Music. In his home country, he is a superstar and musical ambassador with his own television programme. However, this excellent all-rounder is well-known far beyond the borders of Scandinavia, having won an ›Echo Jazz‹ in the category ›Best International Pianist‹. His very own Trio Töykeät, with whom he also played until 2006, has given 2300 concerts in over 40 countries and with his surprising ideas, has turned many genres – particularly the tango – completely upside down.

In addition, Rantala has composed for numerous theatre pieces, musicals and feature films and since 2011 has been at the helm of the Jazz Piano Festival in Kapsäkki. Alongside his work for fim, television, radio and also as solo artist, Rantala has also produced several great albums; the album ›Lost Heroes‹ released in 2011 was celebrated by the Süddeutsche Zeitung as a »Masterpiece« and the German Record Critics’ Award was only one of several prestigious awards it received. The Finn regularly performs with the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen and never fails to amaze his audience.

Sarah Christian’s wish is to convey the honest emotion and energy of classical music to her listeners. In her artistic life, she enjoys combining all influences, not having to compromise anything in her many roles as soloist, chamber musician, the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen’s concert master or as Artistic Director of a chamber music series in her home town of Augsburg. Here she makes the highest demands on herself. Her focus, when studying scores, is always on the music itself, which she approaches with the greatest respect. Her most important teacher is Antje Weithaas, with whom she studied at the Hanns Eisler Music College in Berlin and whose assistant she later became. As professor, Sarah Christian supervises her own class at the Stuttgart College of Music and Performing Arts.

One of her greatest competition success is the ARD Music Competition 2017, at which she won 2nd Prize (no 1st prize was awarded). She also won the audience prize and the Munich Chamber Orchestra’s special prize. Sarah Christian has performed in many European countries, as well as in China, Japan, South America and The United States. As soloist, she has played with orchestras such as the Camerata Salzburg, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia. She gave her debut at Carnegie Hall with the Bavarian State Orchestra in March 2018. Her Debut CD (GENUIN, 2017), featuring Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 1 in F minor Op. 80 and Schubert’s C Major Fantasy has been greatly praised by the press »Sarah Christian’s solo debut is simply fantastic! This violinist has proven to be an extremely sensitive interpreter and she is technically quite simply unimpeachable.« (klassik.com).