Sauli Saarinen is a Finnish conductor and Chief Conductor of the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defence Forces. He joined the ensemble as a conductor in 2023 and was appointed Chief Conductor in 2026. In this role, he leads concerts and productions throughout Finland and is responsible for the orchestra’s artistic activities.

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Since graduating from the Sibelius Academy in 2022, Saarinen has been invited to conduct several Finnish professional orchestras, including the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, Joensuu City Orchestra, Lappeenranta City Orchestra and Kymi Sinfonietta.

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Before focusing on conducting, Saarinen worked as a professional trumpeter with several Finnish orchestras. His background as an orchestral musician has shaped his approach to working with orchestras. His repertoire ranges from symphonic music to contemporary works, with a particular interest in concert programming and artistic collaboration.

Saarinen studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy and furthered his studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and the Panula Academy under Jorma Panula. He graduated with a Master of Music degree from the Sibelius Academy in 2022.