Pekka Kostiainen founder and leader of the Musica Choir, graduated from the Sibelius Academy in 1968 specializing in church music, and got his composition diploma in 1973. Pekka has worked as cantor-organist for Finnish congregation of Pohja and as a musicology teacher in the University of Jyväskylä. In 2000 he renounced his lectureship in order to concentrate on composing and choral conducting. Best known as a composer of choral music, Pekka Kostiainen has also had a distinguished conducting career both with Musica and from 1994 to 2009 with the Vox Aurea children’s choir; he thus has a profound understanding of the choir’s potential as an instrument. A large portion of his production consists of over 100 works for various types of choir. His output also includes large-scale orchestral, chamber and solo works. On this release, his Requiem is featured in its world premiere recording, presented by Jyvaskyla Sinfonia and the St. Michel Strings along with Musica Choir and soloists Sovi Vayrynen, Ena Pongrae, Simo Makinen, and Tapani Plathan.