Olli Leppäniemi studied clarinet with Yehuda Gilad in Los Angeles, Hans-Christian Bræin in Oslo and with Reijo Koskinen at the Sibelius Academy in Finland. His first teacher – Jorma Lautanen in the Lappeenranta Music Institute, Finland – was also a major influence.
Leppäniemi works as Principal Clarinet in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and also the Tapiola Sinfonietta, Finland. Previously he has held tenured Principal Clarinet positions in the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway as well as the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra in Finland. Leppäniemi has appeared as guest principal clarinet with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra of London and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. He is also Principal Clarinet of the Finnish Chamber Orchestra.
In 2009 Leppäniemi became the first Finn to win the first prize in the Carl Nielsen International Music Competition. Since then Leppäniemi has appeared as soloist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Copenhagen Tivoli Symphony Orchestra and Danish National Symphony Orchestra, working with conductors Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Leif Segerstam, Juanjo Mena, Karina Cannelakis and Olari Elts.
A keen chamber musician, Leppäniemi has appeared extensively in different venues around the world. He feels always enthusiasm and passion when taking on a new chamber music project.
For the past five years Leppäniemi has worked as Artistic Director of Crusell Music Festival.
Olli Leppäniemi performs on Buffet Crampon clarinets.