시벨리우스 아카데미는 대학교와 같은 고등 교육 기관이었지만 어린 학생들을 위한 학과를 가지고 있었다. 핀란드의 음악 기관 단체의 마지막 단계로 초등 음악 학교들을 핀란드 전역에,
누구나 근접할 수 있는 거리에 세웠던 것이다. 굉장히 성공적이었던 이 프로젝트는 시간이 지난 후 불행히도 강제로 닫게 되었다.
그는 지휘에 관심을 보이며 교육을 받고 싶어 했지만 공식적인 공부가 부족하다는 이유로 거절을 당했다. 1년 뒤 그는 핀란드 국립 오페라의 퍼스트 콘서트마스터가 되었고, 오페라가 급하게 대체를 필요로 할 때 동료들 앞에 나서 지휘를 하며 새로운 커리어를 시작했다. 카무는 1965년 일반 학교 과정을 마친 후 그의 아버지의 오케스트라인 헬싱키 필하모닉의 세컨드 바이올린 섹션의 서브 리더로 임명되었다. 그의 첫 영구적인 직장은 스톡홀롬 로얄 극장 (오페라)이었는데, 그곳에서 그는 라 트라비아타와 라 보엠, 프로키예프의 로미오와 줄리엣에 나오는 발레 같은 곡들을 지휘했다.Conductor Okko Kamu
OK was born in 1946 into a family of prof musicians in Helsinki, Finland.
At a very early age he started to have lessons in violin from the concermaster of Helsinki Phil Orchestra and in 1952 he was admitted to start violin studies at the Sibelius Academy. His teacher and mentor for almost 17 years was prof Onni Suhonen, himself a student of Jenö Hubay in Budapest.
Even though the Sibelius Academy was a high degree institute like universities, it had a departement for juveniel studenst. This was the last step in the organisation of music institutions in Finland, where elementary music schools were within everyones’ reach pratically in every corner of the country. Unfortunately this method that was very successful was forced to cease in later years.
After having terminated his ordinary school in 1965 he was appointed to a sub-leader of second violin section in his father’s orchestra, the Helsinki Phil.
He had started to show interest in conducting and wanted now to have tuition, but because of lack in formal studies he was rejected.
A year later he became the 1st concertmaster in the Finnish National Opera’s orchestra and when the Opera needed an emergency replacement, he stepped in front of his colleagues and started a new carrier as a conductor.
His first permanent post was at the Royal Theater (Opera) in Stockholm, where he conducted performances of La Traviata, La Boheme etc among a number of ballets like Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet.
In 1969 he was elected to take part in the 1st Herbert von Karajan Conductors’ Competition in Berlin. He won the first price and one of the prices was a recording with the Berlin Phil. His first LP was the 2nd Symphony of Jean Sibelius and the second two violin concertos with the Bamberg Symphony and the great Korean violinist Yong Uck Kim as soloist.
The prize also led him to an extensive international career taking him in last 50 years to all continents with most of the leading orchestras of the music world. His longest and latest engagement was the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for 16 years.
The number of commercial recording number over one hundred and many have won international prices.
His outdoor hobbies include golf and he is often seen with his wife Katriina on courses where ever his ways lead as a guest conductor.
He has awarded the highest national order in cultural field, Pro Finlandia and a title of professor from the hand of Finland’s president.
This is his second visit to Seoul.