Saara Aalto began composing original music at age five, eventually securing victory in the 1998 Kotka Maritime Festival song contest. This early foundation in music led to a multi-faceted career spanning vocal performance, stage acting, and songwriting, as she navigated various international competitive singing platforms and diverse musical markets across Europe and Asia throughout her professional life.
Formative Musical Development
Born in Oulunsalo in 1987, Aalto studied piano under the pedagogue Olga Maslak. Her secondary education at the Madetoja Upper Secondary School concluded in 2005, providing a formal backdrop to her burgeoning interest in composition. She subsequently relocated to Helsinki to pursue studies at the Sibelius Academy, while simultaneously refining her vocal technique at the Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory. Her early competitive success included winning the 2003 Charlotte Church international singing competition.
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Aalto transitioned into musical theatre, performing in productions such as Jesus Christ Superstar and the Finnish version of Wicked. Her television career commenced with Talent Suomi in 2007, where she finished among the top three finalists. In 2012, she entered the first season of The Voice of Finland, eventually placing second in the competition after performing songs by Celine Dion and Frankie Laine.
International Expansion and Eurovision Participation
Aalto attempted to represent Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest on multiple occasions, notably finishing second in both 2011 and 2016. Her 2011 entry prompted her to establish Yume Records with Teemu Roivainen. Following her work in China, where she released a Mandarin-language album and performed at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2013, she achieved further visibility as a runner-up in the thirteenth series of The X Factor. She eventually represented Finland in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing 25th in the grand final.
Fast facts
- Born: 2 May 1987, Oulunsalo
- Citizenship: Finland
- Education: Sibelius Academy, Madetoja Upper Secondary School
- Award: Finnish National Prize (2016)
- Debut Year: 1998
- Primary Occupations: singer, songwriter, voice actor
- Languages: Finnish, English, Chinese
Questions readers ask
Did Saara Aalto represent Finland at Eurovision?
Yes, she represented Finland in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest and finished in 25th place.
What is her background in Chinese music?
Aalto released an album titled Ai De Zhu Fu in 2013 featuring nine tracks in Mandarin and performed at the Shanghai International Film Festival.