Risto Lauriala began to study piano at an early age in Oulu before moving to Helsinki where his teacher at the Sibelius Academy was Professor Timo Mikkila. Further studies took him to London, where he was taught by Ilona Kabos and Maria Curcio, and to the Vienna Music Academy where he attended Professor Dieter Weber's master-classes. It was in Vienna that he won his first international prize in the 1974 Stepanow Piano Competition having already won the coveted first prize in the 1970 Maj Lind Competition in Finland. In 1972 he received his Diploma from the Sibelius Academy where he now holds the professor's chair. Risto Lauriala has performed as a soloist with numerous symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles in Finland and throughout Europe, Japan and the United States. He is also well-known as a recitalist in Finland and Europe. His core repertoire consists of concertos and major works by Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms. Mr Lauriala has recorded works by Bach, Sibelius and Suk for NAXOS and for the Finnish label ALBA.