Even though I had played and written music as a hobby since I was little, my aim was to become a writer – after all, I had managed to publish a novel that I had written when I was 17. I had been making some compositions, too, but I considered myself too old to study music.

I spent my three first years at the University of Helsinki studying Finnish Language, Comparative Literature and Finnish History. In my fourth year, in the autumn of 1970, I came up with the idea of taking on a new minor, Musicology. I marched to the top floor of Porthania to professor Erik Tawaststjerna’s office. When I arrived at the door, he exclaimed: ‘You are a composer!’

Even though Tawaststjerna spent most of his time during those years on leave of absence, he strongly supported me in the twists and turns of the following years. Musicology quickly became my major, which I was to complete in two years, my thesis included. I also applied to the Sibelius Academy and – aided by Tawaststjerna’s references – got Joonas Kokkonen, the academician, as my composition teacher.

After Sibelius Academy, I studied abroad for a couple of years before returning to the Department of Musicology at Helsinki University for the years 1977–1984. As well as writing my dissertation, I did a variety of jobs there, ranging from assistant and extra-staff teacher to acting associate professor. I considered myself a composer, but research had taken hold of me – at that time.