Akseli Mende was born in Portland, Oregon, to Finnish and Vietnamese parents who through their respective languages widened the palette of sound that he could experience and reproduce. Growing up, Akseli took violin/viola and chamber music lessons at the Community Music Center of Portland Parks & Recreation. This critical time in development began to teach him an ideal of unity that also allows space for individuality, and thus accountability, providing a purpose that still holds today: to share.

Orchestral experiences came later, starting with the Portland Youth Philharmonic organization during high school. During a year studying abroad in Finland he participated in the orchestra periods at the Helsinki Conservatory of Music in addition to attending viola lessons. Later studying at St. Olaf College from 2022-2025, Akseli served as a principal violist on regional and international tours with the St. Olaf Orchestra and the St. Olaf Choir, performing in venues such as Carnegie and Severance Halls.

A student of music, Akseli continues to develop his imagination of sound through his exploration of the viola, collaboration, and listening. Chamber music provides a learning opportunity similar to that of simply having a conversation with another person. Notable periods of growth have uncoincidentally occurred as a result of a focus on chamber music, especially when with musicians that play different instruments. Finding a common sound with others, hearing their perspectives and methods, and integrating these into his own playing inspires Akseli to collaborate whenever possible. Stimulating the imagination, developing its abilities, and learning to translate that into sound are essential to Akseli’s purpose. Akseli now pursues further studies in Europe.