Biography

Kasper Haikonen is a saxophonist and flautist born in Säkylä, Finland in 1992. He has toured extensively across Finland with various ensembles, performing genres ranging from jazz and classical to pop music. Kasper has also performed frequently abroad, including in the United States, China, Cuba, Switzerland, the UK, and Hungary. He has performed with artists such as the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, John Fedchock, Mike Longo, Joan Reinders, Aili Ikonen, Jukka Eskola, Jari Perkiömäki, Jannika B, Saara Aalto, Sinitaivas, Kyösti Mäkimattila, Jorma Hynninen, and Arja Koriseva.

Kasper began playing classical flute at the age of eight; three years later, he also took up the saxophone, which subsequently became his primary instrument. At sixteen, he developed an interest in jazz and began studying it as his main subject. After high school, Kasper studied at the Palmgren Pop/Jazz Conservatory in Pori, Finland; upon graduating in 2014, he was admitted to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences to study pop/jazz pedagogy. During this time, he spent a year as an exchange student at the Conservatori del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain. After graduating from Metropolia, Kasper traveled the world, exploring various musical styles such as Irish music. His teachers have included Jussi Kannaste, Joonatan Rautio, Gorka Benitez, Mikael Jakobsson, Tero Saarti, and Anja Voipio-Mansnerus.

Kasper has extensive teaching experience. Among other things, he has led big bands and taught music and other subjects in primary and secondary schools. Kasper has also taught a great deal of music theory and given saxophone, flute, and clarinet lessons at various institutions in Helsinki, Turku, and Pori.
Kasper currently lives in Mons, Belgium and works with the SHAPE Internationl Band. In addition, he performs as a freelancer and does a lot of recording work.