After 39 years of fruitful activity within the classical recording industry, including numerous recording industry awards and an impressive catalogue of over 700 album releases, the founder and managing director of Ondine, Reijo Kiilunen, will step down as the managing director of the label.  

Reijo Kiilunen comments: “On June 10, I will take an essential step towards retirement and will leave my position as CEO and label director of Ondine. However, for the time being I continue to work regularly in the company in a part-time role, so it is not yet time for sentimental goodbyes. 

Joel Valkila, my brilliant colleague of many years, will become the new label director. I am convinced that the future of the company under his leadership is in good hands.

Naxos Group CEO Klaus Heymann will also be involved in a certain transition period in longer-term artists and repertoire planning.”

The Ondine label looks forward in celebrating its approaching 40^th anniversary under the direction of Joel Valkila who has worked already a decade closely together with Reijo Kiilunen as the label’s product manager.

Joel Valkila comments: “There is a lot to learn from Ondine’s impressive history and from Reijo Kiilunen’s example as the label’s visionary director. Under his directorship and alongside several iconic award-winning recordings, for example, in the field of contemporary music alone, Ondine has been able to bring the works of Einojuhani Rautavaara, Kaija Saariaho, Magnus Lindberg, Peteris Vasks, and several other today’s great names in contemporary music to the international music scene through first recordings. Ondine’s highly successful year in 2023, including two Gramophone awards for contemporary repertoire, is a further testament to this. During these years the label has created a clear and distinguished profile which I am honoured to continue. I am also very fortunate that Reijo stays onboard and handles various issues in a part-time role.”

Ondine label was founded in 1985 as an independent label. Since 2009, Ondine has continued as part of the Naxos Music Group to establish itself as a label with a strong focus on renowned Finnish and international artists.