Vocal ability
Lead singer
Vocal range
Mezzo-Soprano
Composer ability
Expert
Singing styles
Favourite genres
- Electronic
- Jazz
- Classical
- Country
Influences: Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Adele, Sia, Abba, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Esperanza Spalding, Hans Zimmer
I started my formal music education at the age of 6 in my hometown Kouvola (Finland) in North Kymi Music Institute (PKMO).
At PKMO (1999-2012) I studied: Piano (classical 1999-2001 & contemporary 2010-2012), Euphonium (2001-2012), Wind & Brass orchestra (2002-2012) one to one contemporary vocals (2007-2012), choir (2000-2008), music theory (classical & contemporary) & acoustic guitar (2008-2010).
Starting from 3rd grade I spent the rest of my comprehensive school grades in a music-oriented school class.
After comprehensive school I went to high school and alongside continuing my PKMO studied I completed a wide range of extra music courses (several music history and performance courses, and a high school music diploma with the subject “Human voice as an instrument”). Furthermore, in 2011 I played a country singer named “Irene” in my school’s production of the musical “Footloose”.
In Autumn of 2012 I moved to Kuopio to start my professional music studies in the Conservatory of Kuopio. Although I majored in contemporary vocals, I became predominantly known as a multi-instrumentalist, regularly playing trombone and euphonium as well as keys in workshops and during gigs. Furthermore, I established myself as a popular photographer among the fellow students frequently doing live music photography as well as varied studio style photoshoots with artists and bands.
The Conservatory studies were designed to create well-rounded musicians and with all the compulsory and optional subjects my studies included: 3 years of contemporary music theory (and exams), a Sibelius notation software course, a music business course, performance studies, music technology studies, piano studies (first compulsory afterward as optional), weekly one to one vocal and trombone lessons, a range of music workshops (jazz, rock, Latin, traditional dance music and Schlagers, pop, soul & fusion, percussion and function/party band repertoire workshops), specified vocal studies (traditional folk music, jazz improvisation, gospel, musical theatre repertoire and A Cappella singing), a range of self-planned showcases acting as the Musical Director and lead singer (Celine Dion tribute, original music concert, acoustic arrangements showcase, jazz standard showcase and a Whitney Houston tribute) and an instrument specific technical exam (etudes, sight reading, scales, jazz solos and a range of songs), which earned me (85/100 points) – one of the best scores given to a vocalist in the history of the school.
Furthermore, I had alto saxophone lessons for a year, learned to do complex music transcriptions and became a fluent sight-reader.
Some highlights of my Conservatory studies included a week-long master class playing trombone and singing backing vocals for Erja Lyytinen, playing in 11 different bands during our five-day “On Fire” festival in 2015, performing with a symphonic orchestra (AmKo Sinfonia) for the first time playing the trombone in 2014 and writing, co-writing, recording and mixing my own music for my thesis.
Outside the Conservatory studies I attended various band camps and Brass & vocal master classes around Finland throughout my music studies. This meant being taught by a range of industry professionals, most notably including some of the best brass players in the world (James Morrison, Velvet Brown, Boston Brass, Sérgio Carolino, Jens Björn-Larsen).
3 months after finishing my Conservatory studies I moved to England and started my BMus Contemporary vocal performance studies in Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford. The next 2 years were spent focusing on songwriting, arrangement, business and artistry, in my chosen “Artist Development” pathway.
At ACM the studies were designed to provide us with as much information of the many aspects of the music industry as possible: Not only did we learn about general musicianship, a range of music styles and songwriting & arrangement and contemporary music theory, but we also had several music business related courses and seminars as well as broad artistry studies based on my pathway choice. Furthermore, we were introduced to a range of industry professionals as our tutors (Simon Gogerly, John Gallen, Jono McNeil, Paul Turner, Katie Hector, Frankie Tontoh, Brian Henry, Kaya Carney, Mike Nichols and Irene Serra to name a few), guest lecturers and speakers as well as during optional master classes (Carla Marie Williams, Divinity Roxx, The Drifters, Anita Wardell, and Newton Faulkner to name a few).
On top of the compulsory studies I was an active participant on several of the school’s extra-curriculum workshops: Loft songwriting sessions, World Tour Workshop, Jazz Workshop, Americana Workshop, vocal technique workshop and vocal jazz workshop.
Since graduating from ACM I’ve been busy building my career in several fronts. I completed an online film scoring course with Berklee College of Music with a first and additionally have done a few intensive short term songwriting courses to advance my writing skills and keep on track with the industry standards and trends.
I am currently working on my own pop-music act under the name Elina, being the musical director and lead singer in Primrose Collective band and Lumino Tones duo as well as occasionally performing with other acts in the role of a session vocalist. Furthermore, I work as a session singer for producers/songwriters and write top lines and music for other artists and producers.
In August 2018 I released my first single “Perfect” and I also have a range of top line, performance and songwriting credits in various recently commercially released co-writes. Besides singing and songwriting I compose for films and ads, take photos of other artists and work as a session musician (trombone/euphonium). In late 2018 I became a founder member in Never Ever Media (NEM) collective: a music and media services offering company.
COVID-19 update from StarNow
www.elinamusic.co.uk
