Juha Kangas studied the violin at the Sibelius Academy with Onni Suhonen and then spent five years playing the viola in the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra before becoming a teacher at the Central Ostrobothnian Conservatory (1972–1986). While there, in 1972, he formed the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, of which he was Artistic Director until the end of 2008. During that time the orchestra won high international acclaim for its homogeneous sound and its astonishingly dynamic drive. Kangas is now the honorary conductor. He was Principal Guest Conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra 2001–2011 and nowadays guest conducts, mainly in Finland and the Baltic states.

Awarded the Finnish State Prize for Music in 1992, Juha Kangas was the recipient of the Latvian Grand Music Prize, the Pro Finlandia Medal and the Finland Prize in 1998, and the Estonian Heino Eller Prize in 1999. He was awarded the honorary title of Professor in 2010.