Jorma Katrama

Who is Jorma Katrama?

Jorma Kalevi Katrama is a Finnish instrumentalist, specializing in violin and double bass.

He studied violin and, later, double bass at the Sibelius Academy and was the first in Finland to be granted a diploma in double bass. From 1964 to 1967 he studied with Gaston Logerot in Paris. In 1966 he made his debut with the Helsinki Phiharmonic Orchestra, and gave his debut recital two years later in Helsinki.

Katrama has given recitals and appeared as soloist in Scandinavia, France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, the United States, Estonia, Russia, South Korea and Taiwan.

He has been a jury member at many international competitions. Katrama became a member of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra in 1959, and was its principal bassist from 1967 until 1999; he is currently retired from the orchestra. He teaches at Sibelius Academy; additionally, he regularly holds master classes all over the world and has established the Finnish Double Bass Society. Katrama has recorded 6 solo albums which are very popular and have gained high critical acclaimn. Katrama´s playing has been described such as: "Double bass like a Nightingale", "The tone is liquid sunshine".