 The very orchestra, under leadership of Osmo Vänskä, nominated her as "The Young Master Soloist" for the season 1993/94.Since then Vähälä has collaborated with the Lahti Symphony on regular basis, performing as their soloist also on tours in Sweden, UK, South America and Central Europe.Elina Vähälä is the winner of the 1999 Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York.