Photo by Jake Barokas
Conductor. Advocate. Teaching Artist.
Dr. Riikka Pietiläinen Caffrey is redefining the choral experience, and is always striving towards profound connection, equity, and artistic evolution.
As a conductor, scholar, and composer, she treats the stage as a living canvas. Riikka works to disrupt patriarchal hierarchies and exclusive narratives in classical music, substituting them with holistic, inclusive musical spaces. Currently serving as the Associate Professor of the Practice and Director of Choral and Vocal Performance at Boston College, she leads the historic University Chorale on international stages—most recently directing them at the Papal Altar in St. Peter's Basilica.
Riikka's work breathes new life into the choral art form by constantly pushing the boundaries of traditional performance experiences bridging diverse artistic disciplines. Examples of
Cross-Disciplinary Collaborations: Choral voices woven together with contemporary movement (choreographer Laura Pietiläinen), spoken word (poets Proshot Kalami and Rhina Espaillat), and eclectic acoustic and electronic sounds (harpist Felice Pomeranz, composer Kristin Vining, and pop artist Rie Daisies).
Advocacy and Community Impact: Deeply committed to social justice, she directs the Bridges ESOL Chorus in partnership with the Boston Public Library, providing English-language learners with an empowering, communal space to sing, connect, and learn about their new home.
Riikka’s distinct artistic voice is forged from a diverse musical background. Her choral journey began singing with the globally acclaimed Finnish choir Philomela, before she immigrated to the United States to pursue jazz performance.
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Choral Conducting | University of Colorado
Master of Music (MM) in Choral Conducting | University of Colorado
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Jazz Performance | The City College of New York (CUNY)
Before arriving at Boston College, Riikka held appointments at American University in Beirut, Lebanon, Whitman College in Washington, and Bunker Hill Community College in Boston.
Full curriculum vitae available upon request.