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Pekka Hako

Vesa Pekka Hako
Born February 12, 1957, Helsinki

MA and licentiate (Musicology) 2000, University of Helsinki
Master of Education 2003, University of Helsinki
Further post-graduate sociology studies and communication studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki

CEO at Pekka Hako Productions Ltd. 2011–
Cultural Counselor at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs 2007–2010
Finnish Opera Recording Coordinator 2001–2005
Executive Director at the Finnish Music Information Centre 1991–2000
General secretary at the Foundation for the promotion of Finnish music 1991–2000
General secretary at the Society of Finnish Composers’ Sibelius Fund 1991–2000
Producer at the Finnish Music Information Centre 1989–1991
Assistant at the Department of Education 1989, University of Helsinki
Music editor at Edition Pan 1987–1990
Assistant at the Department of Musicology 1987, University of Helsinki
Researcher at the Academy of Finland 1986–1987
Founder and director at Musiikkikoulu Musiikkihuone 1983–1990
Keyboard teacher at Musiikkikoulu Musiikkihuone 1983–1988
Editor at Hellas-piano Ltd. 1982–1986
Secretary at the Leevi Madetoja Committee (Society of Finnish Composers) 1980–1984
Part-time librarian at the University of Helsinki Musicology Department 1980–1981
Manager of the Vantaa Orchestra 1979–1980

Music journalist and writer 1979– (for radio and numerous newspapers and journals)
Author of reference books 1981–
Scriptwriter, director and producer for cultural and artistic television programmes and documentaries 1989–
Scriptwriter and producer for Finnish cultural exhibitions 2006–

Photo: Heikki Tuuli
Written by Pekka Hako (Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta, ed.)
Translated by Tomi Setälä
Revised by Joe McVeigh

Building a Musical Community

During my first years at the Department of Musicology at the University of Helsinki I and my fellow students Tero-Pekka Henell and Risto Nieminen founded the Synkooppi (‘Syncopation’) magazine (1978). I am particularly proud that the magazine is still going strong. I was an active member of our student organization. We organised parties, solicited advertisers for our magazine and bought records from importers at reduced prices for musicology students. It was subconscious networking, the curiosity and the desire of a young do-gooder to learn all the ins and outs of the musical community.

Pekka Hako is one of the three founders of Synkooppi magazine and its first editor. Pictured are opuses 1 through 7.​
Pekka Hako is one of the three founders of Synkooppi magazine and its first editor. Pictured are opuses 1 through 7.​

I have always savoured the rather childish notion that I am at the service of Finnish music. Professor Erkki Salmenhaara’s advice hit close to home: ‘Study Finnish music and musical culture. No one else does.’ For me, those have been the words to live by.

In addition to my professional work I have held several positions of trust at cultural organisations and foundations, from the Finnish Critics' Association to the Board of Trustees and the Artistic Committee of the Savonlinna Opera Festival.

Around ten years ago I ditched all these positions of trust, but now I am making my comeback. Most recently I have been appointed to the board of The Kalevala Society. Collaboration is to me the basis of all cultural activity. Nordic co-operation for music projects in Europe and the United States in the 1990s was particularly fun.

Pekka Hako’s undergraduate thesis on Musicology was his first semi-scientific publication (Synkooppi opus 2).​
Pekka Hako’s undergraduate thesis on Musicology was his first semi-scientific publication (Synkooppi opus 2).​

 

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Pekka Hako

Vesa Pekka Hako
Born February 12, 1957, Helsinki

MA and licentiate (Musicology) 2000, University of Helsinki
Master of Education 2003, University of Helsinki
Further post-graduate sociology studies and communication studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki

CEO at Pekka Hako Productions Ltd. 2011–
Cultural Counselor at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs 2007–2010
Finnish Opera Recording Coordinator 2001–2005
Executive Director at the Finnish Music Information Centre 1991–2000
General secretary at the Foundation for the promotion of Finnish music 1991–2000
General secretary at the Society of Finnish Composers’ Sibelius Fund 1991–2000
Producer at the Finnish Music Information Centre 1989–1991
Assistant at the Department of Education 1989, University of Helsinki
Music editor at Edition Pan 1987–1990
Assistant at the Department of Musicology 1987, University of Helsinki
Researcher at the Academy of Finland 1986–1987
Founder and director at Musiikkikoulu Musiikkihuone 1983–1990
Keyboard teacher at Musiikkikoulu Musiikkihuone 1983–1988
Editor at Hellas-piano Ltd. 1982–1986
Secretary at the Leevi Madetoja Committee (Society of Finnish Composers) 1980–1984
Part-time librarian at the University of Helsinki Musicology Department 1980–1981
Manager of the Vantaa Orchestra 1979–1980

Music journalist and writer 1979– (for radio and numerous newspapers and journals)
Author of reference books 1981–
Scriptwriter, director and producer for cultural and artistic television programmes and documentaries 1989–
Scriptwriter and producer for Finnish cultural exhibitions 2006–

Photo: Heikki Tuuli
Written by Pekka Hako (Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta, ed.)
Translated by Tomi Setälä
Revised by Joe McVeigh

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