Martti Rousi is one of the leading cellists of his generation, internationally renowned as both a soloist and pedagogue. He is widely recognised for his expressive artistry, depth of interpretation, and his influential role within the Finnish cello school.
Originally trained on piano, he turned to the cello at an early age, inspired by the Finnish cello tradition. His formative teachers were Timo Hanhinen and Seppo Kimanen. In 1979, he continued his studies at the Sibelius Academy with Prof. Arto Noras, further shaping his artistic voice through masterclasses with William Pleeth and Valter Despalj, as well as private studies with Natalia Gutman.
Rousi gained early international recognition after winning First Prize at the Turku Cello Competition at the age of 21, which led to solo engagements with all major Finnish symphony orchestras. In 1985, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study with Prof. Janos Starker at Indiana University, where he also won the annual cello competition. The following year, he received the Silver Medal at the VIII International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.
Since then, he has performed with leading orchestras including the Helsinki, Stockholm, and Oslo Radio Symphony Orchestras, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Mariinsky Orchestra, and the Shanghai Philharmonic, collaborating with conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Valery Gergiev, Osmo Vänskä, Sakari Oramo, and Leif Segerstam.
As a chamber musician, Rousi has worked with many of today’s foremost artists, including Leonidas Kavakos, with whom he performed in a piano trio alongside Peter Nagy, as well as pianists such as Olli Mustonen, Kathryn Stott, Laura Mikkola, and Juhani Lagerspetz. He appears regularly at leading international chamber music festivals.
From 1993 to 2009, he served as Artistic Director of the Turku Music Festival, shaping its artistic profile and presenting artists such as Sviatoslav Richter, Yehudi Menuhin, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Lang Lang. He has also held artistic directorships of SIBAFEST in Helsinki and Suvisoitto in Sysmä.
Rousi is a highly sought-after teacher, giving masterclasses at leading music academies worldwide. His discography includes recordings for Ondine and Finlandia. He performs on a Carlo Giuseppe Testore cello (1690) and a Jean Le Febvre cello (1760), with a François Tourte bow (c. 1810).