Finnish conductor and composer Leif Segerstam passed away on October 9th at the age of 80. He has served as the chief conductor and music director of multiple symphony orchestras, creating 371 symphonies. He claims to be a descendant of shamans and is known for his long beard and carefree behavior reminiscent of Santa Claus.

Leif Segstein was born in Vasa, on the Gulf of Bothnia in western Finland. He studied violin, piano, composition, and conducting at the Sibelius Conservatory in Helsinki, and later pursued graduate studies at the Juilliard School in New York. He briefly served as the chief conductor of the Finnish National Opera.

Afterwards, Leif Segstein's conducting career was full of vitality, having served as the principal conductor of the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (1975-1982), the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (1977-1987), the Rhineland Palatinate Philharmonic Orchestra (1983-1990), the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (1988-1995), and the chief conductor and music director of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (1995-2007).

Leif Segstein's conductor repertoire ranges from Mahler and Bruckner to opera, as well as works by Sibelius and other Scandinavian composers. His diverse and colorful music compositions have won him numerous fans. He has recorded a large number of albums, including his own compositions.

He also served as a conducting professor at the Sibelius Conservatory, following in the footsteps of Joma Panura and cultivating many conductors into master conductors.

Leif married violinist Hannele Segerstam (principal of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra) and they have two children: Jan and Pia. Pia is a professional cellist, while Yang is a businessman.

After divorcing Hannele, he married Minnaleena Jankko, a Helsinki Philharmonic harpist, in 2002 and had three children. In 2009, their marriage came to an end.

Lev Segstein has visited China and collaborated with the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and other orchestras for concerts.