Lahti Symphony Orchestra

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The Lahti Symphony Orchestra (Sinfonia Lahti) is a Finnish orchestra, based in the city of Lahti. It was founded in 1910 and placed under the control of the Lahti municipality in 1949. In Finland the orchestra performs in the Sibelius Hall, while it also performs abroad in concert halls and festivals. Kalevi Aho was appointed composer-in-residence for the orchestra in 1992, and they have recorded many of his recent works.

Past chief conductors of the orchestra have included Ulf Söderblom. Osmo Vänskä became principal guest conductor of the orchestra in 1985, and chief conductor in 1988. During his tenure, he and the orchestra have achieved wide acclaim, particularly with performances and recordings of Sibelius. Vänskä is scheduled to conclude his tenure as Chief Conductor in 2008 and become Conductor Laureate.

In December 2006, the orchestra announced the appointment of Jukka-Pekka Saraste as artistic advisor to the orchestra from August 2008 to July 2011. Saraste is scheduled to be part of an artistic team that includes concertmaster Jaakko Kuusisto, principal hornist Pertti Kuusi and general manager Tuomas Kinberg.