The Finnish flautist Petri Alanko studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and subsequently at the Freiburg Music Academy in Germany. He won first prize at the 1989 Kobe International Flute Festival in Japan and at the Munich ARD Competition a year later. Invitations followed for performances in Germany, the United States of America and Japan, in addition to his active career as a performer in Finland. He served as principal flautist of the Zurich Opera Orchestra in the 1987-1988 season, before taking up a similar position with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He also works with the Finnish Chamber Orchestra and teaches at the Sibelius Academy. His recordings for Naxos include the flute sonatas of J.S.Bach (Naxos 8.553754 & 8.553755). Petri Alanko plays a 14-carat gold Muramatsu flute.