Uusi jäsen: Niki Main
A ’triple threat’, singer-composer-poet Niki Main’s creative practice centers lyricism and drama. They are artistically at home in numerous contexts whether it be singing in front of an orchestra, behind the audio for an installation art exhibit, or acting in a performance art piece. Niki’s repertoire spans countertenor, contralto, and mezzo-soprano parts from baroque opera and oratorio to romantic lieder, bel canto opera, and modern works, including premiering works by living composers.
Opera is a medium close to Niki’s heart, and they have composed two operatic works, in each of which they premiered one of the roles themself. As a transgender operatic artist, Niki is passionate about progressing the genre and industry to become more inclusive.
In addition to their passion for composing for the stage, Niki is also obsessed with drawing out each instrument’s ’singing voice’, and as such has composed many pieces for solo instruments which explores this concept.
Recent projects include collaborations with the Avanti!, Lappish, and Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestras, EMO Ensemble, Key Ensemble (broadcast by Yle, the Finnish Broadcasting Company), Koekeittiö (Test Kitchen), Musaics of the Bay, and Katarina Barruk and work for festivals and exhibitions including the FRONT International Triennial, Making Home–Smithsonian Design Triennial at the Cooper Hewitt, Musica Nova Helsinki, and an UrbanApa Miniresidency at Tekstin talo.
Other recent performances include the roasting swan in Orff’s Carmina Burana with Opera BOX, lieder by Alma Mahler with the Royal Conservatoire The Hague’s chamber orchestra featured on Omroep West (Radio West), the arrangement premiere of Riikka Talvitie’s Queen of the Cold Land: Prologue for countertenor and orchestra with the Sibelius Academy Orchestra, John Cage’s Songbooks at Viitasaaren Musiikin aika (Time of Music Viitasaari) directed by Joan La Barbara, the roles of Honour in Purcell’s King Arthur and Liberto, Lucano, and Littore (reinterpreted for countertenor) in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea with the Sibelius Academy Opera, and Vistole in Francesca Caccini’s La liberazione di Ruggiero with the Iceland University of the Arts.
Niki studied composition and singing at the Sibelius Academy with supplementary studies in early music at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague. From 2025 to 2027, Niki is a mentee through the AEC–ECSA–EJN–JMI Mentorship Programme.
Three works
Ea was of water but could not cry (2025)
for string orchestra
2025 International Eduardas Balsys Composers Competition 1st Prize, performed by Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra (Robertas Šervenikas, conductor) at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Vilnius
1994 San Marino Grand Prix (2025)
chamber opera in one act, libretto by Mimmi Ahonen & Kasimir Koski
25-minute demo premiered at Musiikkitalo, Helsinki; directed by Bálint Barcsai & Antti Silvennoinen, conducted by Mateusz Gwizdałła, singers Wille Enckell & Niki Main
Laulaen (2022)
Da capo concert aria for solo cello
Kuva: Veera Pitkänen