ABOUT US

 

Huilupiste is a full-service flute shop and repair shop founded in 2016. Our store on Laivastokatu and our online store have a wide selection of flutes, headjoints and accessories. Our selection includes, among others, student flutes by Burkart, Di Zhao and Haynes, professional flutes and headjoints by Brannen, Burkart and Muramatsu, piccolos by Bulgheroni, Burkart and Hammig, and headjoints by Mancke and Lafin. Our own professional flute background sets the bar high, Huilupiste only sells products with an excellent price-quality ratio.

Our passion for flutes and crafts determines our way of working. We always strive for the best possible outcome in maintenance and repairs, taking into account the special characteristics and needs of both the customer and the flute. Every flute is as valuable to us as it is to its owner. We will also tell you honestly if repairing an instrument is not reasonable. Our entire staff is trained as professional flutists, so we speak the same language as the players. We have sought flute repair training from leading flute manufacturers, including Japan and the United States. Our repair shop is certified by Muramatsu, Brannen and Straubinger. We always use the highest quality spare parts, materials and tools.

 

Johannes Päkkilä: The story of Huilupistee began in 1995, when I became interested in playing the flute in the third grade and started taking lessons. After a couple of years of playing, I entered the Oulu Conservatory, from where the road led in 2005 to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and music pedagogy studies. I studied flute, piccolo and traverso at Metropolia. I spent more than ten years in my professional studies. I completed the A-course in flute with excellent grades under Hanna Juutilainen in 2013, after which I continued my studies in early music under Pauliina Fred. In addition to my studies, I completed my military service in the Guard Band, where I also worked as a flute and piccolo player for about five years. I gained teaching experience and orchestral experience in the form of various substitute positions.

In the fall of 2015, I was able to study flute repair and construction at the Muramatsu flute factory for three months. I returned to Japan for another three months at the end of 2016. I have always liked meticulous work and crafts. So the transition from being a player to studying flute repair felt natural. In February 2016, I founded Huilupiste. The first workshop was in a former garage next to my home in Espoo. My dream was that Huilupiste would one day be a full-service flute shop, because maintenance or repairs alone cannot always fully serve the needs of flutists: sometimes, in addition to maintenance, a new mouthpiece or an ergonomic aid may be necessary. On the other hand, flutes cannot be sold without a flute repairer available under the same roof: flutes for sale, regardless of price, need regular tuning and after each trial, the instruments must also be checked, cleaned and disinfected for the next trial.

During my trips to Japan, I also briefly attended classes at the Kotato & Fukushima, Sankyo and Miyazawa factories. In 2017, I spent the late spring and early summer in the United States at the Brannen factory and Jonathon Landell's courses. I also briefly visited the factories or workshops of Haynes, Powell, Nagahara and Keefe. In the summer of 2017, Huilupiste moved to Lauttasaari and the retail business also included the sale of instruments and accessories. In early 2019, we moved to Kamppi, Helsinki, Lapinlahdenkatu for a few years. In April 2022, we moved to our current premises in Katajanokka. On May 1, 2024, our company name changed from a trading name to a limited liability company.

My flute repair, construction and restoration studies have been supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Wihuri Foundation and the Tokyo Japan-Finland Association.

Salli Vilkanen: I came to work at Huilupiste in 2018 after studying wind instrument repair in the United States. At Huilupiste, I continued to deepen my repair skills, focusing on the world of flutes. There are endless things to learn and it is wonderful!
My flute studies began at the Uusimaa Suzuki Institute. From there, I continued through the Kerava Music Institute to Lahti University of Applied Sciences, where I graduated as a flute teacher. Along the way, I managed to live in Germany for a year, studying flute and traverso at the Trossingen Music Academy. That is where I got the spark to continue my traverso studies at the Sibelius Academy, where I graduated with a master's degree in 2020.
The best thing about my job is making instruments sound more effortless, resonate better and function mechanically smoother than they did when they were first made. See you at the workshop!

 

Georgii Petrov: I am a flutist and certified woodwind repairer. I have over seven years of experience in instrument repair. I started working at Huilupistee in the spring of 2022 and I am delighted to be part of this team of top professionals. My passion, precision and high quality promise guarantee that the instruments will sound even better after maintenance. As an artist who has been dedicated to playing the flute for over seventeen years, I appreciate the beauty and finesse of flutes, which is useful in my work.
Whether you are an experienced musician or just starting your musical journey, you can trust my expertise. At Huilupistee, craftsmanship and music meet, bring your instrument here and I will ensure its full functionality!

 

 

Riikka Suuronen: I joined the Huilupiste team in January 2023. I serve our customers face-to-face and through various channels, and I also take on administrative support tasks. What makes me happy in my job is that I get to interact with top products and the world's best customers every day, and do meaningful work that is in line with my values ​​in this very special field!
I have studied flute playing at the Helsinki Conservatory, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, and the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome. My studies have included piccolo and traverso playing, as well as pedagogy. I have also studied musicology at the universities of Helsinki and Barcelona. I also happen to have a degree in tourism and hospitality from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences.
I am characterized by multidisciplinary and curiosity. In addition to work in the music and culture sectors, I have worked, among others, as a guide on a remote island, as a consultant in an IT company, and as a sole proprietor. When it comes to flutes, my strength is that I know the everyday lives of professional flutists and flute teachers, but on the other hand, I can take into account the needs of various amateurs.
Ask me anything related to flutes, and I will answer or find out about it!