Arto Noras, born in 1942 in Turku, Finland, is a distinguished cellist recognized as one of the most outstanding internationally acknowledged cellists of his generation. He began his musical education at the age of six with Professor Yrjö Selin at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He furthered his studies under the tutelage of Paul Tortelier at the Paris Conservatoire, where he earned the prestigious Premier Prix diploma in 1964. In 1966, Noras gained international prominence by winning second prize at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, which launched his career on the global stage.

Noras has performed in the most prestigious concert halls across Europe, North and South America, and Asia, establishing himself as a technically brilliant and expressive soloist, as well as a sensitive chamber musician. His repertoire spans the entire cello literature, from Baroque to contemporary works, and he has recorded extensively, including several works dedicated to him.

In 1970, Noras was appointed Professor of Cello at the Sibelius Academy, a position he held for 40 years before becoming a Professor of Cello at the Hochschule für Musik in Hamburg, Germany. He is also a founding member of the Sibelius Academy Quartet and the Helsinki Trio.

Arto Noras founded the Naantali Music Festival in 1980, serving as its Artistic Director, and in 1991, he established the International Paulo Cello Competition. He is in high demand as a jurist for prestigious competitions such as the Tchaikovsky, Casals, and Cassado competitions and is renowned for his masterclasses worldwide. Noras has collaborated with prominent composers like Krzysztof Penderecki, Aulis Sallinen, and Jeajoon Ryu, and has performed Penderecki’s works under his baton on four continents. His contributions to music have been recognized with awards, including the Danish Sonning Prize in 1967 and the Finnish State Music Prize in 1972.