Biography (Eng)
Maria Ala-Hannula, born in Finland, started her piano studies with prof. Siiri Raik (Estonia) and for professional music studies she attended the Pirkanmaa University of Applied Sciences (Tampere, Finland) until the diploma exam in 2006. Her professors include Finnish pedagog Kristiina Kask-Valve and prof. Lauri Väinmaa (Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre).
Maria Ala-Hannula has a deep interest for chamber music, which she has studied with numerous remarkable professors, including the New Helsinki Quartet, Pier Narciso Masi, Adrian Petcu and masterclasses of vocal chamber music with prof. Collin Hansen (Sibelius Academy) and Ilmo Ranta (Sibelius Academy). Maria has performed as an orchesta soloist at the Teatro Nuovo in Verona and in concerts with violinists, celloists, flutists, clarinetists, singers and in different chamber music ensembles, also playing the harpsichord. She has performed numerous premieres of contemporary music both as a soloist as in chamber music ensembles and worked as an accompanist for the opera class in Verona. Her regular chamber music partners include Francesco Scomparin (violin), Laura Heikkilä (piano duo) and Jenni Kuronen (soprano). The latest collaboration is in piano duo with the Italian pianist Leonardo Zunica.
In 2009 she finished the two-year master class at the Musical Academy of Florence (Accademia musicale di Firenze) with prof. Pier Narciso Masi. At the moment she’s specializing in chamber music studies at the Verona Conservatoire “E. F. dall’Abaco”. She has attended master classes by professors such as Huy-Jing Liu-Tawaststjerna, German Danileiko, Balázs Szokolay, Franco Scala, Leonid Margarius, Anna Kravchenko, Boris Petrushansky and Grzegorz Kurzynski. Maria performs, both as a soloist and with chamber music ensembles, of which with soprano Jenni Kuronen she gained regocnition by winning the 2nd prize and a special mention reward at the Kangasniemi Lied-pianist Competition in 2008. The duo won also the 3rd prize at the Lied-competition “Riviera Etrusca” in Piombino, Italy in 2009. The piano duo Heikkilä/Ala-Hannula has won the 1st Prize at Concorso pianistico “Città di Bardolino” and at Concorso pianistico nazionale “G. Rospigliosi”.
Beside the concert and chamber music activities Maria has always dedicated herself to the didactics by teaching piano students of all ages and levels. Currently she teaches at Scuola Civica Musicale B. Maderna of Verona; at the “Musicale” Cultural Association, a prestigious music school centered in Castiglione delle Stiviere. At the moment she is teaching in her home country, Finland, for the spring semester.