CELLOMANIA – a band comprised of two top Finnish cellists – are releasing a unique album of popular music with a fresh twist.
The band, founded by world-class cellists Jaani Helander and Lukas Stasevskij, CELLOMANIA play covers of pop, rock, game, and film music on two cellos, as well as some of their own compositions. Their first official performance in July 2020, was at Helsinki’s Allas Sea Pool stage. This year, they have recorded their debut album, “Mania Unleashed,” to be released on October 15th, 2021, on Spotify and other streaming services.
About the Band
In 2019, Jaani Helander asked Lukas Stasevskij, a former fellow student at the Sibelius Academy, if he would be interested in professionally developing a two-cello ensemble. They immediately found a common vision of the ensemble’s possibilities and agreed on an ambitious work routine. The first gig was at the Minibar in Helsinki in October 2019. CELLOMANIA was born.
Much earlier, in 2011, Jaani started performing with a cello duo. A cellist friend had been asked to perform at a university event; they came up with the idea of arranging pop and rock songs for two cellos for the event, and it was a success. Over the years, Jaani performed with the cello duo at weddings, corporate events and private parties. Their street performances with the duo in Germany, Italy and elsewhere were also a hit. Two cellos turned out to be a very functional ensemble because of the instrument’s vast register and technical potential.
CELLOMANIA will continue making covers and compositions and plans to return to concert stages when the global pandemic allows. They will also explore the potential for combining the two cellos with electronic music, thus producing more original material.
Jaani Helander is a member of the HELSINKI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, teaches cello at the Sibelius Academy, and is the founder and artistic director of the Helsinki Chamber Music Festival. He won second prize at the national Turku Cello Competition in Finland in 2010 and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in twenty countries.
Lukas Stasevskij won fourth prize at the international Witold Lutosławski Cello Competition in Poland in 2011 and has toured the world with New York’s LINCOLN CENTRE QUINTET. He is also the founder and artistic director of the GAME MUSIC COLLECTIVE.
