Boris Sirpo

Boris Osipovich Sirpo (April 3, 1893 - January 25, 1967) was a Russian-born Finnish violinist, conductor, composer, and music educator. He was the founder of the now Lahti Conservatory in Lahti, Finland, as well as the Portland Chamber Orchestra.

Early life and education
Boris Sirpo was born as Boris Osipovich Kaufman in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, Russia, on April 3, 1893. He studied music throughout Europe, including under Jean Sibelius, before making his debut in the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra in 1912.

Early career
Sirpo established the Viipuri Conservatory ("Viipurin Musiikkiopisto") in Vyborg in 1918, and served as its director until 1939. During this time, Sirpo became acquainted with many famous violinists of the time, including Bronislaw Huberman, whom the Viipuri Chamber Orchestra toured with in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Brussels, Belgium, and Paris, France, in the spring of 1932.



World War II and move to the United States
One of Sirpo's most famous students was Heimo Haitto; Sirpo took him as not only a student but also a foster son. With the advent of the Winter War, the Viipuri Conservatory was destroyed, and Sirpo and Haitto left the city of Vyborg and emigrated to the United States, arriving on March 13, 1940. According to Greta Sirpo, Boris Sirpo's wife, Boris Sirpo and Haitto grew increasingly distant as Haitto toured the United States with famous American conductors, and the Haitto grew distant with Sirpo when his foster contract ended.

Greta and Boris Sirpo moved to Portland in October 1941, where Boris began to teach lessons. In 1945, he accepted a position at the Lewis & Clark College. In 1946, Sirpo founded the Portland Chamber Orchestra, the oldest chamber orchestra in the United States. He also founded the all-female Little Portland Chamber Orchestra in 1953, which toured across Europe.

Later life and death
Greta Sirpo died in Portland in December 1955; Boris Sirpo remarried his former student, Gretchen Sirpo.

Sirpo became a naturalized American citizen in the late 1950s.

Sirpo died on January 25, 1967, in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 73.

Legacy
The Viipuri Conservatory that Sirpo established was rebuilt and relocated to the city of Lahti, Finland, after World War II. It is now the Lahti Conservatory ("Lahden Konserttitalo"); Sirpo-Hall in the Lahti Conservatory is named after him.

Awards and honors
During his lifetime, Boris Sirpo received the following awards and honors:
 * Commander of the Order of Saint Stanislaus
 * First Class Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland

Sirpo was awarded a honorary Doctor of Music degree from Lewis & Clark College in 1963.