Ossi Tanner

Helsingin Sanomat has called him a romantic virtuoso, Aamulehti has praised his Beethoven interpretation as one of an experienced master, while Rondo Classic has described his sound as romantic. Almost unanimously critics have named Ossi Tanner (b. 1997) a piano poet whose touch is at the same time heavy but soft, bright, singing, inspired, and imaginative – in a word, lyrical.

Tanner is known as a versatile musician, who performs both as an orchestra soloist, as a chamber musician and with solorecitals, which he has described as ”the pianist's Mount Everest”. He has performed with solo recitals and chamber music in over ten European countries, as well as in Israel, Canada, and the United States. As an orchestra soloist, he has presented a broad repertoire from Rachmaninov and Chopin to Gershwin or Finnish composer Ann-Elise Hannikainen's forgotten piano concerto from the 1970s, which he performed with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra in 2023. Ha has also premiered works by composers of his age, for example Touko Niemi, Robert Ruohola, Joel Järventausta and Alexander Howard.

Tanner has performed as a soloist with almost all Finnish orchestras, as well as performed in their chamber concerts. He was Artist-in-Residence of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra during the season 2017–2018. He has worked with renowned conductors from Sakari Oramo to Joshua Weilerstein, Nicholas Collon and Eiji Oue, Klaus Mäkelä to Hannu Lintu, Susanna Mälkki, Tarmo Peltokoski and Jukka Untamala. He won the Tampere Piano Competition in 2017 and the Leevi Madetoja Competition for Young Pianists in 2015, the later being only 17 years old.

Both Ossi Tanner's pianistic ideals and his outlook on life rely on the attainment of a profound state of flow, freedom of interpretation, and seizing the moment. He has made a big impression at music festivals in Kuhmo, Turku, Naantali and Mänttä, PianoEspoo, Kokkola SyysKamari, Helsinki Seriös and Lahti Sibelius Festival. He is also himself active with programming and exploring innovative concert concepts. Since 2021, Tanner has been the Artistic Director of the Kamarikesä Festival in Helsinki together with Abel Puustinen and Klaara Vasara. He is also the Artistic Director of the KAIKU concert series at the Finnish Institute in France in 2025–2026.

Ossi Tanner spent his childhood in the United States and Belgium and began playing the piano at the age of six in Sirpa Heikkilä's classes. After moving to Finland Tanner's artistry rose to a new level. He began his studies with Tuula Pulkki and Junio Kimanen, who also introduced Tanner to the legendary Konstantin Bogino, whose classes he attended in Paris. At the Paris Conservatoire (CNSMDP), Tanner's teacher was Professor Michel Dalberto. Also Niklas Pokki and Paavali Jumppanen have made a great impression on Tanner's artistic image.

Tanner holds master’s degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, under Dr. Marc Silverman, as well as from the Sibelius Academy, under professors Erik T. Tawaststjerna and Matti Raekallio. In his spare time, Tanner enjoys listening to old and historical jazz records, golfing and ice swimming, reading novels, and seeing movies.

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”OssiTanner is a sensitive chamber musician of the best sort”
Mats Liljeroos, HBL 11.12.2023 (chamber music, Helsinki Seriös)

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"For soloist Ossi Tanner, the concert provided an opportunity for brilliantly soaring bravura, fierce motoric unleashing and sometimes also sparkling reverie."

Hannu-Ilari Lampila, Helsingin Sanomat21.1.2023 (Hannikainen concerto, Helsinki Phil)

"This pianist handles the instrument's resources with convincing logic, for which his motoric abilities also provide abundant opportunities."

Matti Asikainen, Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Keskisuomalainen 15.9.2021 (Chopin concerto, Jyväskylä city orchestra)

"Tanner has a soul connection with his composer, and he approached Chopin's pianism from just the right angle: letting the concerto sing with a soft sigh and without unnecessary brilliance. He immersed himself instinctively in the young composer's intimate world."

Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen, Sibelius Hall, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat 22.2.2018 (Chopin concerto, Lahti Symphony Orchestra)

"This romantic virtuoso's playing sparkled with all the technical brilliance required, but importantly, he has the ability to make his touch sing and carry with clarity. His poetry was finely controlled, while at the same time creating an impression of youthful spontaneity."

Hannu-Ilari Lampila, Helsingin Sanomat 7.5.2017 (Tampere Piano Competition)

"As a musician, Tanner is a great communicator with a unique ability to address the listener directly. These are the tools that go a long way!"

Harri Hautala, Aamulehti 6.5.2017 (Tampere Piano Competition)