On a glittering New York evening hosted by Ambassador Jarmo and Jaana Sareva, 91ɬÂţ gathered friends of Finland and the arts to celebrate one of the world’s most visionary conductors and composers— Maestro Esa-Pekka Salonen. The occasion marked not only a tribute to Salonen’s remarkable career but also the launch of the Finlandia Foundation Esa-Pekka Salonen Music Scholarship Fund, an initiative that embodies his spirit of innovation and boldness.

Since 1953, FFN has awarded scholarships that support Finnish and Finnish-American students pursuing their dreams in the arts, humanities, and sciences. The very first scholarship, granted in 1956, went to composer Einojuhani Rautavaara to study at both the Sibelius Academy and The Juilliard School—fitting origins for a night dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians.

“Music is in our DNA,” said FFN Executive Director Thomas Flanagan. “From Sibelius to Salonen, we have always believed that art has the power to bridge, unite and move humanity forward.”

That lineage continues with Maestro Salonen, who became FFN’s Patron in 2006 and whose career has been defined by fearless innovation. A recipient of the 2024 Polar Music Prize—alongside Nile Rodgers—Salonen also recently received a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording for Kaija Saariaho’s Adriana Mater with the San Francisco Symphony. His upcoming appointments as Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, inaugural Chair for Creativity and Innovation at the Philharmonie de Paris, and Principal Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris underscore his global influence and forward-thinking artistry.

From the very start, Salonen has challenged the conventions of classical music. His work has been described as “open, provocative, experimental, and bold”—qualities that also define the vision behind the new scholarship fund. Beyond the podium, Salonen’s creativity extends into technology and education, from his groundbreaking The Orchestra iPad app to his mentorship of emerging composers around the world.

“The Finlandia Foundation Esa-Pekka Salonen Music Scholarship Fund,” Flanagan explained, “is inspired by that same drive—to push boundaries, champion creativity, and ensure access to music education for future generations.”

The fund will support students and artists who exemplify three guiding principles: cultural collaboration, access to music education, and musical innovation. It will serve as a two-way exchange for both Finns studying or working in the United States and Americans exploring Finland’s music traditions. As Salonen himself once said, “Society without good music would be impossible to live in. If we didn’t have arts, it would be the end of mankind.”

The evening also paid tribute to those who made the scholarship’s launch possible. The family of Marion Sundquist attended the event, where guests watched a moving video honoring her late husband, George Sundquist—an early leader within FFN who founded the Marion Sundquist Endowment for the Arts. Marion and her family have graciously reallocated that fund as a keystone contribution to the new music scholarship. Finlandia Foundation is deeply grateful to the Sundquist family for their enduring legacy and commitment to supporting the next generation of transformative artists.

With nearly $100,000 already committed —including a major contribution from the Finnish Center Association Senior Citizens’ Housing Corporation in Michigan—the fund is off to a strong start. The goal is to award the first signature scholarship by Finlandia Foundation’s 75th Anniversary in 2028.

In his 2024 acceptance speech of the Polar Music Prize, Salonen reflected, “Young artists have one advantage over the more experienced—time. Time for experimenting, learning, and most importantly, time for making mistakes. No success, experience, or wealth can buy us more time.” As the evening drew to a close, Flanagan’s final words echoed the sentiment shared by all in the room: “In an age when support for the arts is uncertain, our response must be courage. Like Salonen, like the Sundquists—we must be bold.”

Story retrieved from The Finnish Line, Fall 2025 Edition.

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