The latest winner of the international Mirjam Helin Competition, mezzo-soprano Jingjing Xu, who charmed audiences with her powerful performances, is now giving her first concert in Helsinki since the competition. She will be performing with pianist Hikaru Kanki.

The Mirjam Helin Singing Competition in June 2024 was Xu’s first international competition, and she was also the youngest participant. In the competition final at Musiikkitalo, he sang as a soloist with a symphony orchestra for the first time in her life.

Winning the Mirjam Helin Competition has brought Jingjing Xu significant international recognition, including the title role in La Cenerentola at the Bregenz Festival in 2025 and a debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen in January 2026.

Born in China, Jingjing Xu holds a master’s degree from McGill University in Montreal. After the Mirjam Helin Competition, Xu moved from Montreal to Europe and now works at the Berlin State Opera’s international opera studio.

Jingjing Xu’s lied partner in Helsinki is pianist Hikaru Kanki. Born in Japan and now living in Hanover, Kanki is a lecturer at the University of Music, Drama and Media in Hanover. Kanki has performed in prestigious concert halls and at major music festivals and has won numerous international competitions. Hikaru Kanki specializes in the interpretation of vocal music, particularly contemporary music and Asian song.

Amadeus TV and Yle Radio 1 will be broadcasting the concert.

In collaboration with the Mirjam Helin Singing Competition, Jingjing Xu and Hikaru Kanki’s concert will be streamed to China by the international production company Amadeus TV. In Finland, the concert can be heard on Yle Radio 1 and Areena starting on March 20.