Presenting our musicians: Aira Maria Lehtipuu
Musician interview 11.2.2026
Aira Maria Lehtipuu, who grew up in the Karelia region and went on to become a Baroque musician, is a familiar face to many concertgoers across Finland. Read below to learn more about Lehtipuu’s thoughts on musicianship and life beyond music.
Name
Aira Maria Lehtipuu
Instrument
Violin and viola, and when needed, viola d’amore
Short introduction
I work as a lecturer in Baroque music at Novia University of Applied Sciences and, in addition to performing with the Finnish Baroque Orchestra, I play actively with other ensembles in Finland and abroad. In my current home city of Tampere, I also run my own ensemble, Pirkanmaa Baroque.
Tell us about yourself.
I come from Ruokolahti in the Karelia region. At home we sang a lot and attended concerts, but there were no musicians as role models within the family.
How did you come to choose your instrument? Who or what influenced the choice?
There was always Yle Radio 1 playing at home — that’s really the only explanation I have for why I decided I wanted to start playing the violin at the age of four.
What inspires you as a musician and in life in general?
Human connection, interaction, and the excitement and ideas that grow out of it. In music there is also a connection to something deeper and indescribable — something at the very core of being.
Which other art form is closest to your heart?
I’m quite a visual person and enjoy art exhibitions and textile and craft art — something that also runs in the family. Dance is also an essential part of my humanity, whether as an art form or simply as a way of being.
What is your greatest musical dream?
To be able to continue doing this for as long as possible and to experience a connection with audiences.
What is your favourite travel destination and why?
Travelling for work is almost always fascinating — seeing new places and meeting people. In recent years, however, I’ve been lucky to experience spring on the Yorkshire moors and in English gardens a little earlier than back home in Finland. I’m really looking forward to it again!
Where does your soul find rest?
On a pine-covered ridge embraced by the waves of a lake — and, of course, in many other places surrounded by nature.
How do you feel your work in the arts influences society more broadly?
I believe that everything we do shapes the reality around us — what we talk about, how we talk about it, and what we choose to highlight and give space to. I also like to believe in the Baroque-era idea that through music we can become slightly better versions of ourselves. For me, anything that brings light, joy, hope, and a sense of community into our time is valuable. Making music is my most natural way of contributing to that.
Why do you find it meaningful to perform music that is over 300 years old?
I find all kinds of music meaningful to play, but the Baroque era speaks to me in a special way. A major reason is the close relationship between words and music, and the ways emotions are expressed and communicated to listeners. It’s also probably similar to why old architecture appeals to the eye: the philosophy and craftsmanship behind the art — and the fact that there was time and care to create things meant to endure for centuries.
Choose a favourite from FiBO’s spring 2026 concert programme and explain your choice.
Venice's Forgotten Treasure on 14 February! It’s special to have the opportunity to perform chamber music by Laura Maddalena Lombardini. She was an exceptional woman in her time and an important figure as a violinist, yet I had never performed her music before.
Tell us one of your guilty pleasures.
Cheddar cheese!
If you had to either run the Cooper test or bake refreshments for a party of 30 people, which would you choose?
Easy — baking for the party. I could manage the Cooper test too, as long as no one pays too much attention to the results.