One of the most distinguished Nordic string players, Lilli Maijala has carved out a unique voice as a violist in all areas of musical engagement. As a concerto soloist, she has performed with orchestras such as the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Lapland Chamber Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen, and Tapiola Sinfonietta, working with conductors including Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Nathalie Stutzmann, Antonello Manacorda, and John Storgårds. She has also premiered concertos by Lauri Kilpiö and Sampo Kasurinen, further expanding the viola repertoire.
Her discography includes, among others, Concerto for Viola, Double Bass, and Chamber Orchestra by Pehr Henrik Nordgren, Viola Concerto by Peteris Vasks, as well as the Brahms String Quintets, recorded with both the Gringolts Quartet and the Dudok Quartet.
After her studies in Germany and across the Nordic countries, Maijala gained critical acclaim at numerous international competitions, including the Munich ARD Competition, the Nordic Viola Competition, the Viola Space Tokyo International Viola Competition, and the viola competition at Klassik Festival Ruhr.
Currently based in Amsterdam, Lilli Maijala is in high demand, dividing her time between teaching and performing at renowned international venues such as the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, IMS Prussia Cove, Festival Resonances, Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival, Risør Kammermusikkfest, Musikdorf Ernen, and the Delft Chamber Music Festival etc. She was previously a member of the highly praised quartet-lab and now performs in the newly formed Valo Quartet.
For over a decade, Lilli Maijala served as the Head of the Viola Faculty at the esteemed Sibelius Academy. In September 2023, she started as a Professor of Viola at the Zurich University of the Arts. She also teaches at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.