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Annika Pongracz

Annika Pongracz started playing the violin at the age of 6 in the Turku City School system under the guidance of Rudolf Nienstedt. The school had three different level student orchestras, in which she participated early on in her studies. She continued her musical studies through the Turku Conservatory followed by the Sibelius Academy, where Annika graduated with a Master's degree in music performance.

She began working in the first violin section of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra in August 1991. Although the work itself remains fairly similar, conductors and soloists change weekly, bringing constant variation and interest to the job. Throughout her career, she has particularly fond memories of interdisciplinary productions, such as concerts with Lalo Schifrin at the Pori Jazz Festival and at Ruisrock with Neljä Ruusua.