Susanna Mälkki initially studied the violoncello at the Sibelius Academy, the Edsberg Institute of Music in Stockholm and the Royal Academy in London; she took part in several master classes, among others with Yo Yo Ma, Lynn Harrell, Steven Isserlis and János Starker. From 1995 to 1998 she was principal cellist with the Göteborg Symphony Orchestra, gave solo recitals and performed as chamber music partner throughout the world. Susanna Mälkki began her conducting studies in 1995, also at the Sibelius Academy, where she worked with Jorma Panula, Eri Klas and Leif Segerstam, At the 1998 Conductors´ Workshop in New York, she again studied with Jorma Panula as well as with Esa-Pekka Salonen. Shortly afterward she conducted the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra as well as a number of other Finnish orchestras. Since then, Susanna Mälkki has conducted, among others, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, the Swedish Radio Symphony and the Göteborg Symphony Orchestra, the Oslo Philharmonic, the Aarhus Symphony and the Royal Flanders Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic and the BBC Scottish Symphony, as well as the Tokyo Philharmonic and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. Until 2005 she was artistic director and chief conductor of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra. With the begin of season 06/07 Susanna Mälkki is artistic director of the Ensemble Intercontemperain.