DAMSTRÖM, Cecilia

The ability to think and feel on a conscious level is what makes us humans differ from other species on earth. This is also what Cecilia Damström (b.1988) tries to achieve with her compositions; to make people think and feel.

Born into a multicultural family in Helsinki, languages and the possibility of combining languages, have always appealed to her while composing. With a background as a classical pianist and with theatre as an interest, also harmony, direction, a sense of drama, and expressivity are always present in her music.

Since graduating in 2014 she has constantly been working on commissions for various ensembles and festivals. Her compositions have received several national and international composition prizes 2009-2022. With the piece ICE commissioned by the European Green Capital Lahti 2021 she won the prestigious Teosto-Prize 2022.

Her accordion concerto Permafrost was nominated 2024 by the Finnish Broadcasting Company to represent Finland at the 70th International Rostrum of Composers, where it was elected to the list of works recommended for broadcasting and concert presentation. Her piece Extinctions, commissioned by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, was nominated for the Nordic Council Music Prize 2024. In 2025 she was awarded the Helsinki City Artist of the Year Award. Her fairytale opera Dumma Kungen won the award for “Children opera of the year” in 2018. In 2019 she made her debut with the Finnish National Opera with her school opera Djurens planet.