Presenting our new artistic planner
Article 10.2.2022
FiBO’s new artistic planner is violinist Anthony Marini! What kinds of ideas and plans does he have in mind regarding this new role? Anthony has also been featured earlier in a musician interview. (In addition to the artistic planner, FiBO’s leadership trio includes artistic director Petteri Pitko and managing director Laura Kajander. Pauliina Fred was the artistic planner from 2018–2021.)
Congratulations on being chosen! Many friends of FiBO know you already – and you have been FiBO’s orchestral librarian and continue to be responsible for booking the orchestra’s upper strings – but please introduce yourself as you would like.
Thank you! I’m very excited about this new opportunity, and I look forward to working with Petteri and Laura in this new capacity. A little about me: I was born and raised in the US, and I moved to Finland in 2010. I have been very fortunate to be able to work and study not only here in Finland, but also all over the European continent. My strongest ties have been with France (where I was an ERASMUS student and subsequently have worked in various orchestras and chamber ensembles), although my calendar has some exciting things coming up in the Nordic and Baltic countries. In addition to playing the violin, I love playing other instruments, including viola, viola da gamba, and viola d’amore, as well as different traditions of folk music. I live in Finland with my wife Liis, a violinist in Sinfonia Lahti, and our daughter Rahel.
As far as FiBO is concerned, I have had almost every imaginable role in the orchestra as both a musician and non-musician. As a musician, I have been a tutti player, section leader, concertmaster, and soloist. My non-musician duties have included stage management, logistics, booking upper strings, and managing all of the orchestra’s sheet music needs (including creating new editions). I have also been involved in the musicians’ committee, where I served as the committee chairman and represented the musicians’ interests to the patron association’s board.
Why did you decide to apply for the position of artistic planner? What do you hope to accomplish during your term?
My involvement as the chairman of the musicians’ committee allowed me to see a new side of the orchestra, and I began to consider how I could further contribute to the future of FiBO. I love exploring new kinds of programming, especially when it involves collaboration here in Finland or abroad. My goal is to help the orchestra return to the strength and security that we had before the pandemic, as well as to help it strengthen and develop new partnerships that will bring new opportunities for our musicians as well as our Finnish audiences.
What single work or concert has had the most significant impact on you?
One of my most memorable concerts was the “Dancing Queen” programme at Herrenchiemsee Castle. It was an astoundingly beautiful place (and acoustic), and it was such a fun concert with so many very close friends. It is also a programme which combines chamber orchestra and chamber choir, which is probably one of my favourite combinations!
Do you have any special responsibilities, or do you divide the planning responsibilities evenly with Petteri?
Working with Petteri is a great honour, and his example was a big motivator for me to apply for this position. The responsibilities for “typical” orchestra concerts are divided relatively evenly between us, but I will also be heading FiBO’s new regional project in the Tapuli-Suutarila area of Helsinki from 2022-24. We will release more information about that soon!
You are beginning your work after almost two years of various restrictions. How do you feel about beginning this work?
The uncertainty of how the world (and Finland specifically) reacts to this pandemic has been an enormous source of stress for freelancers. I am cautiously optimistic that, while we won’t return to the way things were before the pandemic, we will find a way to revitalise the performing arts and restore some semblance of stability for our musicians and audiences.
Do you ski? Or do you plan to try sometime? :)
I have only skied (cross-country) once in my life, when I was visiting Mikkeli for a project. My colleague (who is from Mikkeli) had a young neighbour who took us out skiing and was my “teacher”, and let’s just say that I couldn’t even turn around. It was also my first time on top of a frozen lake!