Ce­cilia Zil­li­a­cus appointed professor of violin at Sibelius Academy

Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy has named Cecilia Zilliacus as its new violin professor, beginning in August 2023. Zilliacus has also served as violin professor at Royal College of Music in Stockholm and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.

’Being a teacher is probably one of the most important professions in the world,’ said Zilliacus. ’It is indeed a profession, but could just as well be defined more as a calling. To have the honour of helping a young person become what they desire to become feels like a gift.’

Zilliacus will work in the Academy’s department of strings and chamber music, which currently comprises four professors, 14 lecturers and about 35 class teachers, serving approximately 150 major subject students and 30 Junior Academy students.

Zilliacus studied at the Royal Academy of Music Stockholm and the University of Music and Dance, Cologne. She is the artistic director of Katrina Chamber Music on Åland as well as of the Korsholm Music Festival in Vaasa, Finland. She is also a driving force in the award-winning Swedish string trio ZilliacusPerssonRaitinen, which runs the Stockholm Concert Hall’s chamber music series.

A champion of new works, she and her string trio have commissioned works by B. Tommy Andersson, Dai Fujikura, Mats Larsson Gothe, Fredrik Hedelin, Daniel Nelson. Mika Pelo, Sven-David Sandström and Lotta Wennäkoski. As a soloist, she has performed with many Swedish, Nordic and European symphony orchestras. 

Zilliacus has an extensive recording output. Her most recent recording of works by Saint-Saëns was reviewed in the May 2023 issue of The Strad, described as ’strong, bright-toned playing, forthright and determined.’

Playing

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