Finnish conductor Ulf Söderblom (b. 1930). Conducting degree at the Vienna Academy of Music. At the Finnish National Opera conductor 1957-1973, director of Planning 1968-1970, Artistic director 1970-1973 and temporary Chief Director 1996. Artistic director of the Helsinki Philharmonic 1978-1979 and the Lahti Symphony 1984-1987. Söderblom har been the Savonlinna Opera Festival conductor since 1967. In 1977 he was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Music.