Saara Aittakumpu has been the conductor and artistic director of the Polytech Choir since 2013. She also conducts Chamber Choir Kampin Laulu. Aittakumpu holds a Master’s degree in music with a major in Choral Conducting, awarded by the  Sibelius Academy (now part of the University of the Arts, Helsinki, Finland). 

Aittakumpu has broad experience in teaching choral conducting at several institutions. She has worked as the choir master in productions by many prominent orchestras both domestically and outside of Finland. In her choirs, she emphasizes the commissioning of new music, and has premiered dozens of new works.

Saara Aittakumpu was awarded with the conductor prize at the 5th International Anton Bruckner Choir Competition and Festival in Linz, Austria, and at the International Baltic Sea Choral Competition in Riga, Latvia. In 2018, the Finnish Choral Directors’ Association awarded her the prize of Choral Conductor of the Year.