Photo: Iida Liimatainen
Rita Varonen has directed the Jyväskylä Female Choir since 1993. She received her master’s degree in choral conducting from the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest. She also has a degree in wind band conducting and has studied singing.
Rita Varonen is an internationally successful choral conductor. She was awarded the Harald Andersén Prize by the Finnish Cultural Foundation in 1996 for her significant contributions to the development of Finnish choral culture. In October 2001, she placed second in the international Mariele Ventre choral conducting competition held in Italy. In 2004, the Finnish Choral Conductors’ Association named her Choral Conductor of the Year.
In 2009, she was selected as the best conductor at both the Slovakia Cantat and ABB Banská Bystrica choral competitions. In 2012, the Finnish Singers’ and Musicians’ Association Sulasol awarded her the Klemetti Prize in recognition of her effective work with choirs and choral music. Her most recent honors include the Golden Badge of Merit from the Mixed Choir Association in 2018 and from the Women’s Choir Association in 2022.
Rita Varonen is senior lecturer in orchestral and choral conducting at Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences. She is also a sought-after expert at training events and judge in international choral competitions.
Contact Information
Artistic Director Rita Varonen
johtaja@naislaulajat.net
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