Chief Conductor

Sami Ruusuvuori serves as Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Police Band. Previously, has held conducting positions with several Finnish military bands including the Guards Bands and Conscript Band. He has a deep understanding of classical, jazz and commercial music which has allowed him to work with many of Finland’s best musicians.

Ruusuvuori has conducted ensembles on tours of Japan, Russia, Europe, the Baltics and the Nordic countries. He has been a jury member for several wind band competitions. He has taught at the Sibelius Academy and served as teacher/clinician for many master classes. Sami Ruusuvuori is a strong proponent of new music and has commissioned and premiered many new pieces. He has conducted on twelve recordings. As a trombonist Ruusuvuori performs constantly with various ensembles.

Ruusuvuori is currently a doctoral student in wind band conducting at the Sibelius Academy with the subject “Western symphonic wind band music from the twentieth century to the present”.

Assistant Conductor

Heikki Elo has been working as the assistant conductor of the Helsinki Police Symphonic Band since 2016.

Elo studied music in USA, Kuopio Conservatory and Oulunkylä pop and jazz institute in Helsinki. He continued his studies at the Sibelius Academy and graduated as Master of Music form the wind band conducting class in 2013.

He has conducted all bands of the Finnish Defence Forces as well as symphony orchestras in Oulu, Kuopio, Jyväskylä, Vaasa and Pori.