Otto Tolonen (*1980, Finland) is a Finnish classical guitarist and Professor of Guitar at the Musikhochschule Lübeck, where he has taught since 2019. He has pursued an international career as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher, performing throughout Europe, North and South America and Japan. His concert appearances include major venues such as the Southbank Centre in London, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Music Centre Helsinki. Tolonen studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki with Jukka Savijoki and Timo Korhonen, and continued his studies with leading European guitarists including Raphaëlla Smits, Thomas Müller-Pering, Jürgen Ruck and Oscar Ghiglia. Between 1995 and 2009, he received prizes in 20 international competitions, including 1st Prize at the International Instrumental Competition Markneukirchen and 1st Prize at the Andrés Segovia Competition in Spain, as well as prizes at the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) International Competition in the USA and the Tokyo International Guitar Competition. Tolonen has taught at the Sibelius Academy and has held a professorship at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. He has given masterclasses throughout Europe and the United States. His artistic interests range from Renaissance music to contemporary repertoire, with a particular focus on 20th- and 21st-century European music and the work of Hans Werner Henze. He has worked extensively with Henze's manuscripts at the Paul Sacher Stiftung and prepared the published edition of the second Royal Winter Music sonata for Schott. Tolonen has released seven albums, including Toccata: Finnish Guitar Music, Tiento Français, Royal Winter Music and Retratos. His recordings include premiere recordings of Finnish repertoire and have received critical acclaim and Emma Award nominations. Beyond music, Tolonen has a particular passion for Gothic and early Renaissance art, particularly the Sienese School, and is an enthusiastic dog lover.