About
Timo-Veikko Valve, affectionately known as “Tipi” to audiences, grew up in Finland in a family described as “musically oriented normal people.” At six, he was encouraged to play the cello after a teacher at a local music school insisted that he “looked just like a cellist!” Tipi remains intrigued by this remark but acknowledges it was spot on.
Appointed Principal Cello of the Australian Chamber Orchestra in 2006, Tipi’s leadership has become central to the ACO. Renowned for his creative and generous musicianship, he studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and the Edsberg Music Institute in Stockholm before moving to Australia.
Tipi transitions effortlessly between modern and period instruments, describing the cello as a flexible partner in both ensemble and solo performances. His diverse career includes playing, curating, and directing from the cello, and he performs with major orchestras in Finland and Australia. A sought-after chamber musician, Tipi actively commissions and premieres new works. He currently plays a Brothers Amati cello from 1616, on loan from the ACO Instrument Fund.