The charismatic accordion virtuoso MINNA WEURLANDER was born and raised in Finland and music brought her to Sweden where she is active as a concert accordionist and composer. She is today considered as one of the Europe’s most multifaceted concert accordionists. She works with symphony orchestras, string quartets, contemporary and experimental dance, theater and performance along with film productions. She has also extensive proficiency of leading ensembles and music productions.
Minna appears as an ensemble leader and accordionist in PHILIP GLASS´S new opera CIRCUS DAYS AND NIGHTS. 2016 she formed the ensemble WEURLANDER & DESEO STRING QUARTET followed by album “GLOW” (2020), consisting her compositions and her arrangements of Kurt Weill´s and Saul Cosentino´s music. She is also the film score composer for “THE APE STAR” movie, premiered 2021.
Minna started playing when she was only four years old and att the age of 14 she entered the youth education at Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. She finished her solo- education at Sibelius Academy University of Arts 1997.
Minna has also participated of masterclasses with legendary French accordionist Marcel Azzolla (also known for he´s collaborations with Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf et al.) and pianist Lina Bosatti, accordonist and compocer Richard Galliano and world-famous Russian accordion virtuoso professor Friedrich Lips.
The public interest for Minna Weurlanders talents rose early. During her education she toured frequently, winning competitions in Finland and abroad, for instance Premio Internationale ASTOR PIAZZOLLA and CIA international accordion world championship. She masters many different kind of music genres and styles. From classics like Bach and Scarlatti to contemporary accordion music, like for example Sofia Gubaidulina´s. From opera to world music, Tango Nuevo and Russian contemporary accordion music. Her own music is strongly influenced by the Russian and Finnish accordion tradition and of course by the Argentinian contemporary tango. Minna frequently experiments with the accordion’s various sonorities, its percussive qualities and massive sound.
She is also very keen on 19th and 20th centuries organ music. César Frank´s, Louis Vierne´s and Oliver Messiaen´s music appears often in her soloprogramme.
Minna has been working multiple times at Malmö Opera as an accordionist and bandmaster/arranger. During 2012-2013 she was accordionist in residence at the Opera House. She has written music to several theatre, dance, performance and film producions in Sweden and in Denmark; “Dreyer, The Tyrannical Dane” (Lynch Company DK), “Frida K” (Theatre Sagohuset in Lund), ” The Ape Star” (Leefilm), “RESPECT” (Stillleben DK)…
She´s been working successfully several times as an accordionist and composer with the Danish “one of a kind on the Danish dance and performance scene” Anders Christiansen.
Minna has been touring in Europe and in Scandinavia over the last fefteen years, with her solo concerts and with Duo Naranjo-Weurlander. She has appeared multiple times on Swedish, Finnish and Danish Radio and TV.
Minna released her latest album “GLOW Weurlander & DESEO String Quartet “(former Pomona) in May 2020 and she has previously released two solo albums “Usva” and “Señora del Destino”. “ENTWINED” and “INFINITY” with Duo Naranjo-Weurlander, and album “TRIO FATALE” with her former trio. Duo Naranjo-Weurlander has become one of the Scandinavian most successfull crossover ensambles. In this duo she performs and composes together with pianist Tania Naranjo.
Current concert productions:
- Weurlander & Symphony Orchestra, Accordion Concerto by Hans Ek (2024)
- Minna Weurlander-solo accordion
- Weurlander & Deseo String Quartet “GLOW”
- Weurlander & Deseo String Quartet “CINEMATC IMAGES” (2023)
- Härenstam & Weurlander , guitar and accordion
- TANGO DELIRIUM Reuben Sallmander, Weurlander & Deseo, Naranjo
- Weurlander & Naranjo(pi) with Symphony Orchestra (music by Weurlander-Naranjo)
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.
Conductors:
INGAR BERGBY, HANS EK, EMIL ELIASSON, SUSANNA MÄLKKI, MATS RONDIN, MARC SOUSTROT.
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.
AWARDS
IRIS award 2016. ” To progressive women who demonstrates an extraordinary ability and motivation”. 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. 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.
foto Karolina Henke
Supproted by Swedish Arts Council, The Swedish Arts Grants Committee, Region Skåne
MINNA WEURLANDER 