Lilja Haatainen (b. 2011) began playing the violin at the age of 3 using the Suzuki method, and at the age of 6, she continued her studies at the Oulu Conservatory under Mervi Kyrki. Lilja’s family moved from Kempele to Porvoo to support her violin studies, and she currently studies at the Porvoo Region Music Institute with her teacher Janne Malmivaara.
Lilja made her debut as a soloist with an orchestra at just 8 years old when she was chosen as the soloist for the Oulu Symphony Orchestra's Young Soloists concert. In 2022, Lilja won the youngest category of the Jyväskylä Violin Competition and also achieved success with a 1st prize in the 9-13 age group at the Louis Spohr International Competition for Young Violinists in Germany. Despite her young age, Lilja has already performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Oulu Symphony Orchestra, Lappeenranta City Orchestra, Radio Symphony Orchestra, Finnish Chamber Orchestra, and the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also performed as the youngest artist at festivals like the Naantali and Mikkeli Music Festivals.
Lilja's studies have been supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Pro Musica Foundation, and the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.