Risto Vilho Johannes Lauriala, born on November 21, 1949, in Oulu, Finland, is a classical pianist. He studied at the Sibelius Academy from 1969 to 1972, earning a master's degree in piano in 1972, and also received a bachelor's degree in musicology from the University of Helsinki in 1973, majoring in the humanities. Lauriala won first prizes at the Maj Lind Piano Competition in 1970 and the Stepanow Competition in Vienna in 1974, and was a semi-finalist at the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in 1980. He has performed extensively as a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist both domestically and internationally. Since 1976, he has been affiliated with the Sibelius Academy, teaching piano and chamber music, and serving as a lecturer in accompaniment since 1982. His discography includes recordings for labels such as Alba, Fuga, and Naxos. In addition, he studied privately in London with Ilona Kabos and Maria Curcio, and attended masterclasses at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna with Dieter Weber from 1973 to 1975.
