The charismatic accordion virtuoso Minna Weurlander was born and raised in Finland. Her passion for music brought her to Sweden, where she currently works as a concert accordionist and composer. She is widely recognized as one of Europe’s most versatile accordionists, collaborating with symphony orchestras, string quartets, chamber music ensembles, as well as in contemporary and experimental dance, theater, opera, and film productions. Minna has also extensive experience leading ensembles and music productions. In Autumn 2025, she will begin teaching accordion at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.
Minna started playing the accordion at the young age of four. By the time she turned 14, she enrolled in the youth education program at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. She completed her soloist education at the Sibelius Academy University of Arts in 1997.
In addition to her formal education, Minna has participated in masterclasses with prominent musicians, including French accordionist Marcel Azzolla—known for his collaborations with Jacques Brel and Edith Piaf, pianist Lina Bosatti, accordionist and composer Richard Galliano, accordion professor Stefan Hussong, and the renowned Russian accordion virtuoso, professor Friedrich Lips.
Minna Weurlanders’ talents gained widespread public attention early on. Throughout her education, she frequently traveled and won competitions in Finland and other countries, including the Premio Internationale ASTOR PIAZZOLLA (trio Tango Fatale) and the CIA international accordion world championship.
Minna is skilled in a wide range of musical genres and styles, from classical composers like Bach and Scarlatti to contemporary accordion music, including for example works by Sofia Gubaidulina. Her repertoire spans chambermusic, barocque music, opera, filmmusic, crossover/world music, Tango Nuevo, and eastern contemporary accordion works. Her own music is heavily influenced by the Russian and Finnish accordion traditions, as well as the Argentinian contemporary tango.
Minna explores the accordion’s diverse timbres, percussive aspects, and powerful sound. She also has a strong interest in 19th and 20th-century organ music, frequently including compositions by César Franck, Louis Vierne, and Olivier Messiaen in her solo performances.
Minna collaborates often with other composers to commission new music for her instrument and for her ensembles. Recently, she has performed two world premieres: “Concerto for Accordion and Symphony Orchestra” by Hans Ek with the Västerås Sinfonietta, and “September Dance” by Mats Hålling with the Wermlands Opera Orchestra.
Some of Minna’s compositions have also been arranged for accordion and Symphony Orchestra. In 2021, “KARELIAN LIGHTS,” “NIGHTFALL & NORIC,” and “MOVIE” were performed with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra and the Jönköping Sinfonietta. Orchestral arrangements were made by Mats Hålling. “…Weurlander is dazzling when she lets her accordion unfold long serpentines of luxurious timbre. Not least in “Karelia Lights”, where Finnish-Russian gunpowder and Latin American fire explode in a star rain…” Dagens Nyheter
Minna is a gifted composer who got the chance to display her talents by composing the film score for the film “THE APE STAR.” The movie was released in 2021, giving her the opportunity to bring her creative ideas to the world of cinema.
She has also successfully collaborated multiple times as an accordionist and composer with dancer and choreographer Anders Christiansen, ” the one of a kind on the Danish dance and performance scene”
“respect” dance performance by choreographer Anders Christiansen. Music and accordion Minna Weurlander.
Minna Weurlander founded the ensemble WEURLANDER & DESEO STRING QUARTET in 2016. Their debut album, titled “GLOW,” was released in 2020 and features Weurlander’s original compositions as well as arrangements of music by Kurt Weill and Saul Cosentino. In 2023, she produced and released their latest album titled “DIRECTIONS,” accompanied by a major tour in Sweden. They are currently touring successfully with the “CINEMATIC IMAGES” concert, featuring compositions by artists such as Philip Glass, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Bernard Herrmann, Vladimir Martynov, and others, all arranged for accordion and strings by Weurlander herself.
Minna appeared as an ensemble leader and accordionist in PHILIP GLASS´S new opera CIRCUS DAYS AND NIGHTS, world premiere at Malmö Opera 2021.
“…I had not intended to single anyone out, yet I find I must give special mention to one person: the sensitive and intense Minna Weurlander, who leads the seven-member orchestra from her accordion…” Swedish Radio
“…lead by accordionist Minna Weurlander, the fabulous instrumental septet sets the opera going…” Adventures in music
“…Circular moments are also present in Glass´s music, through characteristic, minimalistic repetitions, where small, almost imperceptible variations constantly alter the phrasing. Brilliantly, the accordionist Minna Weurlander leads the small circus orchestra…” Svenska Dagbladet
“….The circus tinge to Glass’ score, which is written for a small ensemble and a dramatic accordionist, Minna Weulander, brings to mind the composer’s early studies with French composer Darius Milhaud, and especially Milhaud’s popular surrealist Cocteau ballet score, “Le Boeuf sur le Toit” (The Ox on the Roof). The Paris premiere featured circus clowns…” Los Angeles Times (more reviews klick here)
Minna has frequently worked as an accordionist and bandmaster/arranger at the Malmö Opera. She was the resident accordionist at the Opera House during 2012-2013. Minna has composed music for various theatre, dance, performance, and film projects in Sweden and Denmark, including “Dreyer, The Tyrannical Dane” (Lynch Company, Denmark), “Frida K” (Theatre Sagohuset, Lund), “The Ape Star” (Leefilm), and “RESPECT” (Stillleben, Denmark).
Clip of “concert of the week” Swedish Television 2002 .Production MWMusica/accordionist
” IN MEMORY OF ASTOR PIAZZOLLA” Trio TANGO FATALE & COSMOPOLITANGO. Malmö Concert Hall, Växjö Concert Hall, Nybrokajen 11 Stockholm, Västerås Concert Hall, Hässleholm Concert Hall. Swedish Television/”Veckans Konsert”. MWMusica
Current concert productions:
- Weurlander & Symphony Orchestra/Sinfonietta, Accordion Concerto by Hans Ek (2024)
- Weurlander & Symphony Orchestra/Sinfonietta, music by Astor Piazzolla, Minna Weurlander, Mats Hålling.
- Minna Weurlander In solo concert
- Weurlander & Deseo String Quartet “CINEMATC IMAGES” / “Directions”
- Härenstam & Weurlander , guitar and accordion
- Tango Delirium acc, strings, song.
Awards and prizes:
IRIS award 2016. ” To progressive women who demonstrates an extraordinary ability and motivation”. World championship- CIA international accordion competition, Prize winner at Premio Internationale ASTOR PIAZZOLLA/Castelfidardo, Royal Swedish Academy of Music/Hagström award, STIM award, Region Skåne Culture award, Malmö Culture award. Minna and her music is supported by the Swedish Arts Council, the Swedish Arts Grants Committee, the Swedish Performing Arts Agency, Statens Musikverk, Region Skåne Kultur and Sten K Johnssons Stiftelse.
COLLABORATIONS : JÖNKÖPING SINFONIETTA, MALMÖ SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, MALMÖ OPERA, CIRKUS CIRKÖR, NORDIC OPERA, FREEBIRD Opera, LEE Film, NORRKÖPING SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, JÖNKÖPNG SINFONIETTA, HELSINGBORGS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, STOCKHOLM SYMPHONIC WIND ORCHESTRA, GISLAVEDS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, GOTLAND WIND QUINTET.
SWEDISH RADIO, SWEDISH TELEVISION, DANISH RADIO, DANISH TV, TANGO FATALE-trio, VERTAVO STRING QUARTET/NOR, WEBER QUARTET/SWE, CIURLIONIS STRING QUARTET/Vilnius Filharmonija/LTU, AMANDA STRING QUARTET, STILLLEBEN DANCE COMPANY, A.CHRISTIANSEN/DK, LYNCH COMPANY/DK, CPH PIX-FILMFESTIVAL, MALMÖ CITY THEATRE, STOCKHOLMS MUSIKTEATER, TEATER SAGOHUSET, SAUL COSENTINO, MATS HÅLLING, TOBIAS BROSTRÖM…
Conductors: INGAR BERGBY, HANS EK, EMIL ELIASSON, SUSANNA MÄLKKI, MATS RONDIN, MARC SOUSTROT.
MINNA WEURLANDER 