That was really amazing! Many thanks to all of us)) Kantele-GO!

Submitted by KA3100 on
Kantele teachers and participants of the master course

On June 25 - 29, 2019  Kantele Master Course within the Karelia CBC project “Kantele Goes Global! Ground Zero” (KA3100) took place in Kuhmo, Finland.  That was the first master course arranged by the Kantele-GO! project team in order to develop performing skills of kantele teachers and players and provide cultural exchange in the field of kantele music in Finland and the Republic of Karelia. To fulfill the project tasks there will be a series of master courses in the following two years in which the best kantele artists from Finland will participate as teachers.  

This time the kantele master course was taught by experienced kantele artists and teachers Vilma Timonen from the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki, Eva Alkula from the Tampere Conservatory and Hanna Ryynänen from the Turku Conservatory. An additional master class was given by a world famous kantele performer and singer Ida Elina. All teachers are versatile musicians who graduated from the Sibelius Academy and have their own performing style. They all play kanteles of different types – from the 5-string and 10-string kanteles to Saarijärvi-kantele or an electronic concert kantele and promote the Kantele in various artistic settings.

Participants of the kantele course from Petrozavodsk, Olonets, Kondopoga, Sheltozero, Ladva, Pryazha, Essoila, Kostomuksha, Kalevala and Kuhmo enjoyed soulful atmosphere created by wonderful teachers and peaceful sounds of kantele.  Music pieces learnt at the master course were introduced to the public at the Sommelo ethno music festival.  An amazing concert became the final accord of the 5 days study program which allowed kantele teachers  from Finland and the Republic of Karelia to exchange their knowledge and find a new creative way for future cooperation.

The Kantele-Go! project is grateful to the project coordinator in Kuhmo, director of the Runosong Academy professor Pekka Huttu-Hiltunen for his responsibility and commitment. The Kantele-GO! project is supported by the CBC Karelia program.