Markku Luolajan-Mikkola, a Finnish baroque cellist and viol player, was born in Helsinki in 1957. He studied cello at the Sibelius Academy, receiving his diploma in 1983, and later pursued baroque music studies with Laurence Dreyfus and at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, earning postgraduate diplomas in 1992. Luolajan-Mikkola is a founding member of ensembles such as Phantasm viol quartet and the Finnish Baroque Orchestra, which he led from 2009 to 2013. His discography includes over 40 solo and chamber music recordings, with notable releases like Marais' Pieces De Viole Du Second Livre (1998) and Couperin's Pieces De Violes (2008). He received the Finnish Broadcast Company's "Musical act of the year 2003" award for his "Gambaa!" recitals series. He has also taught at the Sibelius Academy and has directed the BRQ Vantaa Festival in Finland.
