Updated: 5th March 2024
Juhani Valtasalmi (b. 1978) is a Finnish conductor. In March 2024, he was appointed as the chief conductor of the Lapland Military Band. Before that, he was the chief conductor of the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defence Forces.
Valtasalmi graduated from the Sibelius Academy in 2016 with a major in wind orchestra conducting. He studied conducting with Peter Ettrup Larsen, Jorma Panula, Atso Almila and Petri Komulainen, to name but a few. In addition to conducting, Valtasalmi studied arranging music for different kinds of ensembles. His arranging teacher was composer Vladimir Agopov.
Between 2007 and 2013, Valtasalmi worked as a clarinetist at the Armour Band in Hämeenlinna and from autumn 2013 onwards at the Navy Band in Turku. He graduated from Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia in 2006 with a major in clarinet.
Valtasalmi has held various positions of trust. Currently, he serves as a treasurer of the Finnish Wind Band Association.
