Jorma Katrama

Jorma Kalevi Katrama (born 1936) 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 Philharmonic Orchestra, and gave his debut recital two years later in Helsinki. Katrama has given recitals and appeared as a soloist in Scandinavia, France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, the United States, Estonia, Russia, South Korea and Taiwan. He has been a jury member at international competitions in Rome, Parma, Cremona, Geneva, Mittenwald, Markneukirchen, Reims, Edinburgh, and Crema.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. He established the Finnish Double Bass Society and the Finnish Piping society, "The Midnight Sun Pipers". Katrama has recorded six solo albums. His playing has been described such as "double bass like a Nightingale" (Helsingin Sanomat), and "The tone is liquid sunshine" (ISB Magazine).He holds honorary memberships in the Finnish Doublebass Society, Scottish Bass Trust, Kyushu Bass Club, Danish Doublebass Club, and the Musician Union of Finland.