Artturi Rönkä (b. 1990) is a Helsinki-based composer and musician. Rönkä has written music in different genres ranging from contemporary classical to modern jazz.
Rönkä studied composition with professor Veli-Matti Puumala in the Sibelius Academy, graduating with a master’s degree in 2020. He has also a master’s degree from the jazz department of the Sibelius Academy. During the academic year 2012-2013 Rönkä studied in Conservatoire de Paris (CNSMDP) as an exchange student.
Rönkä’s piece Chants for organ and chamber orchestra was one of the two winning works in the chamber orchestra category of the international Kaija Saariaho organ composition competition in 2023. Highlights of Rönkä’s career as a composer also include Bells, Chant, written to celebrate the 40th anniversary of UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and the 80th birthday of Finnish saxophone legend Juhani Aaltonen, 11 Scenes, a semi-concertante work for accordionist Harri Kuusijärvi and woodwind quartet and Phases, originally written for a workshop with Ensemble Recherche but also performed by Finnish chamber group ÄÄNI kollektiivi. Rönkä’s piece ”…taakseni katsonut” based on a poem by flutist-poet Johanna Kärkkäinen was released on Kärkkäinen’s duo record with guitarist Olli Hirvanen in 2022. Rönkä is also one of the profile composers on UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra’s album Music of Haarla, Heinilä, Kasurinen & Rönkä from 2020.
In addition to composing, Rönkä performs as a jazz pianist. He has played in groups such as AR Quartet, Rönkä-Remmel-Sommer, Kasperi Sarikoski & Nuance, Jere Haakana Varjosto, Selma Juudit Alessandra and Jean Erik. He was chosen as the artist of the year by Pori Jazz Festival in 2013. Rönkä is also known for his solo concerts that explore the borderline between composed and improvised music.
Rönkä is also a sought-after arranger for different orchestras and large ensembles. Since 2011 he has written over 70 arrangements for UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. His arrangements, orchestrations or transcriptions have also been performed by among others Central Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Oulu Sinfonia, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra & Turku Jazz Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and Avanti! Chamber Orchestra. In 2014 Rönkä was one of the seven arrangers around the world invited to participate in the Metropole Orchestra Arrangers’ Workshop under the guidance of Vince Mendoza.
Rönkä has won the first prizes in both Finnish “Esko Linnavalli” (2011, organized by UMO Jazz Orchestra) and international “Jazzverk” (2012 Luleå, Sweden, organized by Norrbotten Big Band) big band composition contests.