Winner of the Finnish critics’ prize 2021 for the Best Newcomer in the Arts, Emilia Hoving (born 1994) has emerged as one of most exciting young Finnish conductors of today:

 

“Hoving is a conductor on the rise, and for good reason. She has a highly precise, refined and inventive conducting technique that combines airy breathability with power” (Turun Sanomat, April 2024)

 

“ a scintillating performance, memorable for its passion and drama…authoritative conducting, which drew out all the character and charm of each work and encouraged the best performances from the players. Not yet 30 years of age, Hoving has a brilliant career in prospect.” (5*, Limelight Magazine, March 2023).

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Already firmly established across Europe, in 24/25 Hoving returns to conduct the Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Norwegian Radio, Malmo Symphony and Adelaide Symphony, all in their main series.

She conducts the Strasbourg Philharmonic, Belgian National, Trondheim Symphony, Stavanger Symphony, Royal Scottish National, Orquesta Castilla y Leon, Tasmanian Symphony and Netherlands Radio Philharmonic (at the Concertgebouw) all for the first time. Highlights of the last season included her subscription debut with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and her first visits to the BBC Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Tonkünstler Orchestra Vienna, Tenerife Symphony and Swedish Radio Symphony.

 

She made her Japan debut in 2022 at Suntory Hall with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony, and her Australian debut at the Adelaide Festival debut in 2023, conducting the local premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s 'Procession'. In the same year she appeared at the 2023 Avanti! Summer Sounds Festival, and regularly conducts works by living (especially Finnish) composers. In October 2024 she conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony in the prestigious Nordic Music Days festival in Glasgow, and is closely involved with the Helsinki Philharmonic’s ongoing project to revive works by neglected Finnish composers from the last century. 

 

This season she also makes her mainstage opera debut, conducting several performances of the Magic Flute for Opera North.

 

Hoving’s career began as Assistant to Hannu Lintu at the Finnish Radio Symphony (2019) and to Mikko Franck at Radio France (2020-22).  Both posts both led to important jump-ins which catapulted her to the limelight, notably when she took over a concert with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in the  Berlin Philharmonie concert at only a few hours’ notice: “sensationell” (Tagesspiegel, March 2022). 

 

Hoving studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki with Professors Sakari Oramo and Atso Almila, having begun conducting studies in 2015 with Jorma Panula.  She previously studied piano (from age 6) as well as the clarinet.