From Mozart and Beethoven to Dvořák, Sibelius, Britten and Bacewicz, Sallinen’s wide-ranging repertoire also features a strong interest in contemporary music; 2024/25 highlights include conducting ​‘2024 festival composer’ Jessie Montgomery’s music at the Trondheim Chamber Music Festival, and presenting the world premiere of Finnish compatriot Jouni Hirvelä’s Helsinki Variations together with Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Engagement highlights of the 2023/24 season included two return invitations to BBC Symphony Orchestra, following Sallinen’s October 2023 debut; first-time appearances with Berner Symphonieorchester, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra; and performances with Tampere and Turku philharmonic orchestras, among others. In January 2024 the television show ​“Piece of My Life”, featuring Sallinen with Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in concert, was broadcast to 850,000 viewers in Finland, roughly one in six of the country’s population.

Due to complete his Orchestral Conducting studies (with Sakari Oramo) at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki in spring 2025, Sallinen is a former student of Jorma Panula and has been mentored by Paavo Järvi, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Hannu Lintu, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Susanna Mälkki, among others. His musical studies began at the age of five on the violin, and in 2013 he switched to the viola. A national prize-winner and member of the Seele String Quartet, Sallinen has performed at festivals across Europe and appeared as a soloist with orchestras including Finnish Radio Symphony.