Hanna Pakkala started the violin when she was 3 years old and switched to viola at the age of 14. She
attended Sibelius Academy, HfM “Hanns Eisler” Berlin, and HfM “Franz Liszt” Weimar, studying with Helge
Valtonen, Anna Kreetta Gribajcevic, Pauline Sachse and Erich Krüger. Her studies have also included
chamber music lessons with Paavo Pohjola and Teemu Kupiainen, and baroque violin lessons with Kreeta-
Maria Kentala. She has expanded her skills at master classes with Tabea Zimmermann, Kim Kashkashian,
Thomas Riebl and Antoine Tamestit among others. In 2012 she won the 2 nd prize in the Tampere national
viola competition.
During and after her studies Pakkala has worked with the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, Caprizzio
Stravagante, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestera, Rundfunk Symphony
Orhcestra Berlin, and the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra to name but a few. In January 2016 she started
working as the solo violist in the Ostrobothian Chamber Orchestra. Besides that she has also performed
with many different chamber music ensembles around Europe. She plays a Patrick Robin viola from 2009.
