Cities do not immediately end Lasonpalo’s orchestra work

Allegations of misconduct have not immediately ended Erkki Lasonpalo’s work with three municipal orchestras, Yle reports. The cities of Mikkeli, Lappeenranta and Pori say they are considering or investigating the situation, but none has announced an immediate termination.

Yle reported that substance use and alleged breaches of physical boundaries marked Lasonpalo’s work with youth orchestras over several years. He acknowledged having a problematic relationship with alcohol but denied being intoxicated at rehearsals or concerts. He also denied most claims that he behaved too physically with young musicians.

In Mikkeli, Lasonpalo is chief conductor of the city orchestra. City leaders and the orchestra’s director, Jaakko Antila, are considering his position. His appointment is due to end as agreed at the end of this year. Antila said the plan had been for Lasonpalo to conduct the opera Aino, which premieres in January.

In Lappeenranta, where Lasonpalo is artistic director of the city orchestra, the city’s human resources director, Päivi Savilampi-Oikkonen, said officials had heard rumours of possible misconduct on discussion forums last spring. She said hearsay alone was not grounds to intervene in someone’s employment, and that she knew of no neglect or inappropriate incidents involving the orchestra. Lasonpalo told the orchestra about Yle’s upcoming report on Monday and will not conduct its Thursday concert; Savilampi-Oikkonen said he proposed stepping aside. His contract ends at the end of this year.

In Pori, Lasonpalo is chief conductor of Pori Sinfonietta under a contract that began this spring and runs until spring 2027. The city’s director of education, Esa Kohtamäki, said the allegations were being taken seriously and investigated, but the city was not planning any radical decisions. He said the city had not observed the conduct described in Yle’s report and currently had no reason to prevent Lasonpalo from continuing his work.