Helsinki Police Symphonic Band is the official representative orchestra of the Finnish police, based in the Special Operations Unit of the Helsinki Police Department. It performs nationwide, bringing music to communities across Finland. Founded in 1947, this professional orchestra of 43 musicians is organized as a symphonic wind orchestra, including all the instruments of a symphony orchestra except strings.

Crime prevention is at the heart of the orchestra’s work. Each year, the orchestra performs over a hundred educational concerts for children and young people, covering topics such as traffic safety, bullying, social media, sexual self-determination, and substance abuse. These concerts are carefully scripted and tailored to different age groups.

As Finland’s flagship wind ensemble, the orchestra commissions and records new Finnish compositions by composers such as Marzi Nyman, Timo Forsström, Pessi Levanto, Jukka Linkola, Timo Alakotila, Lauri Porra, Heikki Elo, Timo Hietala, and Juha Pisto. The orchestra regularly tours Finland, performing a wide variety of music in collaboration with guest artists.

Over the years, the orchestra has been led by conductors such as Georg Malmstén, Arthur Fuhrmann, Petri Juutilainen, and Esko Heikkinen. Since 2012, Sami Ruusuvuori has served as Principal Conductor.