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Osmo Vänskä started his musical career as an orchestral clarinettist with the Turku Philharmonic and went on to become the principal clarinet of the Helsinki Philharmonic. Prior to winning France’s Besancon Young Conductor's Competition in 1982 he had studied conducting at the renowned Sibelius Academy.
Particularly renowned for his interpretations of the music of Sibelius – Vänskä has recorded the complete Sibelius symphonies with the Lahti Symphony orchestra. He has also been chief conductor of the Lahti, Iceland and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras. 
Since 2003 Osmo Vänskä has been the music director of the Minnesota Orchestra - a position he still holds today. Among the programmes he has initiated with that ensemble is a five-year project to record the complete Beethoven Symphonies
In this week’s Inspired Minds, Osmo Vänskä  talks to Breandáin O’Shea  about the transition from clarinettist to conductor, the special place Sibelius’ music plays in his life and his experience of leading the Minnesota Orchestra on their musical voyage the last six years.

Interview: Breandáin O'Shea/ Osmo Vänska