Erkki Lasonpalo remains Mikkeli orchestra’s principal conductor

Erkki Lasonpalo will continue as principal conductor of the Mikkeli City Orchestra, Yle reports. The city said his engagement with the orchestra would continue as normal.

Yle reported on Wednesday that Lasonpalo’s use of alcohol and crossing of physical boundaries had marked his work with youth orchestras for years. The city’s senior management and orchestra director Jaakko Antila had considered whether Lasonpalo would continue working with the orchestra.

Antila said Lasonpalo’s role as principal conductor is due to end as agreed at the end of this year. The plan had been for him to conduct the opera Aino, which premieres in January. Allegations of inappropriate conduct will not immediately affect his roles as conductor with three other municipal orchestras, the report said.

In a statement on Facebook, Lasonpalo acknowledged that his behaviour had not always been appropriate. He said he had used alcohol in a way that affected his judgement and behaviour, and that there had been situations in which he should have acted differently as an adult in a position of responsibility.

He apologised to young people, their loved ones, and people and cultural institutions. Lasonpalo said he would not comment further.