Ari-Pekka Mäenpää began studying percussion with Pauli Hämäläinen, continuing at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki with Markku Hannola, Lassi Erkkilä and Mongo Aaltonen. Graduating in 1999 with a master’s degree in music, he furthered his studies in Berlin and in Milan under David Searcy. During his career, Mäenpää has appeared with most Finnish orchestras, including the Savonlinna Festival orchestra of which he has a member since 2001. He has also performed at the country’s most important chamber music festivals. In 2001 he became a member of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, initially as principal percussionist, and then as first timpanist. Ari-Pekka Mäenpää also teaches, currently at the Turku Arts Academy and Conservatory.
