View some video from today's performance.
Below is a photo of Finnish President Tarja Halonen at Finland's Annual Independence Day Celebration at the Presidential Palace
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Finnish Independence Day Celebration Today in Berkeley
Beautiful Finland's Independence Day celebration was held earlier today at the Finn Hall in Berkeley. Marge Saarni, Thor Miao and Richard Saarni accompanied the event, Allison Kastama was MC, and Kaarlo Heiskanen was in charge of the program. Pirjo Boss, President of FAHA gave a wonderful history of the Finnish Immigrants (and her own family) to America and told us about several upcoming events. Free joulu sauna at FAHA! Honorary Consul General Michel Wendell brought official greetings from the Government of Finland and also briefed us of the very positive increase in new Finnish companies especially in the Silicon Valley. Gwendolyn and Adrienne Tosaris played expertly the Nutcracker theme on the piano and Tuula Cotter gave us a masterful selection of favorite Finnish songs on the violin. It was also fun to meet the many Finnish students and scholars studying at UC Berkeley and Stanford. Special display of traditional Finnair Christmas ornaments was collected by Pirkko and Kirsti B. Coffee, sandwiches and pulla was enjoyed downstairs. Thank you all for a very wonderful afternoon.
View some video from today's performance.
Below is a photo of Finnish President Tarja Halonen at Finland's Annual Independence Day Celebration at the Presidential Palace
View some video from today's performance.
Below is a photo of Finnish President Tarja Halonen at Finland's Annual Independence Day Celebration at the Presidential Palace
Finlandia Foundation Announces 2011 Performer & Lecturer of the Year
Finlandia Foundation Announces 2011 POY and LOY
Christina Lin of the FF National Office has announced the selection of the Performer of the Year, Wilho Saari, and the Lecturer of the Year, Carl Rahkonen, for 2011. The terms of both will begin on January 1, 2011 and last for the calendar year.
Wilho Saari
Finlandia Foundation National is proud to announce Wilho Saari, a distinguished kantele master from Naselle, Washington, as 2011 Performer of the Year.
The Kalevala, Finland's national epic, tells us that the first kantele was fashioned by the hero Väinämöinen from the jawbone of a pike. It has progressed since then to versions ranging from 5-string to 36-string (maybe more?).
Wilho Saari can trace the tradition of kantele playing back five generations in his family. His great-great grandmother, Kreeta Haapasalo, is one of Finland’s notable kantele matriarchs, a kantele-heroine, as she is often called.
As a teenager, Wilho played brass instruments in the school band and studied piano in college. At age 50, after his older relatives had already passed away, he began to teach himself to play the kantele.
Saari’s degree in music has helped him to develop outstanding skill in teaching himself to play kantele later in life. He is not only a recognized performer in demand, but also a well- respected and active teacher who generously continues to share his kantele knowledge with numerous students around the country. Wilho has received a Washington state Governor’s Heritage Award for his work popularizing and teaching kantele. In 2006, Saari was honored with a National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship, the country’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts. He is also a very productive composer of kantele music, with over 2400 pieces written.
In 2010, Dr. Arja Kastinen from Finland published 365 of Saari’s compositions in a collection called “Tune-a-Day.” Saari has recorded two CDs on the kantele. His latest CD, called “Vilhon Vintiltä,” ("From Vilho's Attic") is mainly made up of his own compositions.
Carl Rahkonen
Carl Rahkonen is a second-generation Finnish-American who is a Music Librarian and Professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He earned a Ph.D. in Folklore and Ethnomusicology from Indiana University, Bloomington, with a dissertation entitled The Kantele Traditions of Finland. During this research, he and his wife lived in Finland as Fulbright Scholars for two years.
He has done research on polka bands in Pennsylvania, Estonian kannel players in Baltimore, American fiddling traditions, and most recently Scandinivian and Finnish-American musicians of the Upper Midwest. He authored the "Overview" for the European-American chapter of the Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. He is a practicing musician who plays classical, popular and folk music in a variety of ensembles.
For more information, see http://www.people.iup.edu/rahkonen.
We welcome both Wilho and Carl as POY and LOY for 2011 and look forward to presenting them at chapter events.
Christina Lin of the FF National Office has announced the selection of the Performer of the Year, Wilho Saari, and the Lecturer of the Year, Carl Rahkonen, for 2011. The terms of both will begin on January 1, 2011 and last for the calendar year.
Wilho Saari
Finlandia Foundation National is proud to announce Wilho Saari, a distinguished kantele master from Naselle, Washington, as 2011 Performer of the Year.
The Kalevala, Finland's national epic, tells us that the first kantele was fashioned by the hero Väinämöinen from the jawbone of a pike. It has progressed since then to versions ranging from 5-string to 36-string (maybe more?).
Wilho Saari can trace the tradition of kantele playing back five generations in his family. His great-great grandmother, Kreeta Haapasalo, is one of Finland’s notable kantele matriarchs, a kantele-heroine, as she is often called.
As a teenager, Wilho played brass instruments in the school band and studied piano in college. At age 50, after his older relatives had already passed away, he began to teach himself to play the kantele.
Saari’s degree in music has helped him to develop outstanding skill in teaching himself to play kantele later in life. He is not only a recognized performer in demand, but also a well- respected and active teacher who generously continues to share his kantele knowledge with numerous students around the country. Wilho has received a Washington state Governor’s Heritage Award for his work popularizing and teaching kantele. In 2006, Saari was honored with a National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship, the country’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts. He is also a very productive composer of kantele music, with over 2400 pieces written.
In 2010, Dr. Arja Kastinen from Finland published 365 of Saari’s compositions in a collection called “Tune-a-Day.” Saari has recorded two CDs on the kantele. His latest CD, called “Vilhon Vintiltä,” ("From Vilho's Attic") is mainly made up of his own compositions.
Carl Rahkonen
Carl Rahkonen is a second-generation Finnish-American who is a Music Librarian and Professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He earned a Ph.D. in Folklore and Ethnomusicology from Indiana University, Bloomington, with a dissertation entitled The Kantele Traditions of Finland. During this research, he and his wife lived in Finland as Fulbright Scholars for two years.He has done research on polka bands in Pennsylvania, Estonian kannel players in Baltimore, American fiddling traditions, and most recently Scandinivian and Finnish-American musicians of the Upper Midwest. He authored the "Overview" for the European-American chapter of the Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. He is a practicing musician who plays classical, popular and folk music in a variety of ensembles.
For more information, see http://www.people.iup.edu/rahkonen.
We welcome both Wilho and Carl as POY and LOY for 2011 and look forward to presenting them at chapter events.
Finnish Christmas Moviegoing starting Dec 17th!!!
Finnish Christmas Moviegoing!
Festooned with holly, our friend Ville Video came down the chimney and gave us this:
HEY SUOMALAISET & FRIENDS: "'Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale,' by Jalmari Helander will be shown at the Shattuck Cinema, 2230 Shattuck Ave. (at Kittredge) in Berkeley for one week starting on December 17. Landmark's publicity blurb follows:
"It's the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an 'archeological' dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn't the one you want coming to town! When the local children begin mysteriously disappearing, young Pietari (Onni Tommila) and his father Rauno (Jorma Tommila), a reindeer hunter by trade, capture the mythological being and attempt to sell Santa to the misguided leader of the multinational corporation sponsoring the dig. Santa's elves, however, will stop at nothing to free their fearless leader from captivity. What ensues is a wildly humorous nightmare--a fantastically bizarre polemic on modern day morality. "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale" is a re-imagining of the most classic of childhood fantasies, and is a darkly comic gem soon to be required holiday viewing. Written and directed by Jalmari Helander. (Finland/Norway/France/Sweden, 2010)."
Sounds like a winner. Check it out. Consult local theatre listings for showtimes. Further info: www.oscilloscope.net.
-- Harry
Festooned with holly, our friend Ville Video came down the chimney and gave us this:
HEY SUOMALAISET & FRIENDS: "'Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale,' by Jalmari Helander will be shown at the Shattuck Cinema, 2230 Shattuck Ave. (at Kittredge) in Berkeley for one week starting on December 17. Landmark's publicity blurb follows:
"It's the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an 'archeological' dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn't the one you want coming to town! When the local children begin mysteriously disappearing, young Pietari (Onni Tommila) and his father Rauno (Jorma Tommila), a reindeer hunter by trade, capture the mythological being and attempt to sell Santa to the misguided leader of the multinational corporation sponsoring the dig. Santa's elves, however, will stop at nothing to free their fearless leader from captivity. What ensues is a wildly humorous nightmare--a fantastically bizarre polemic on modern day morality. "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale" is a re-imagining of the most classic of childhood fantasies, and is a darkly comic gem soon to be required holiday viewing. Written and directed by Jalmari Helander. (Finland/Norway/France/Sweden, 2010)."
Sounds like a winner. Check it out. Consult local theatre listings for showtimes. Further info: www.oscilloscope.net.
-- Harry
Support Salolampi! through organization-matching gifting
Support Salolampi!
Finlandia Foundation National is encouraging its member chapters to support the Salolampi Program.
Eight (8) scholarships, $300 each, are made available in 2011, covering approximately one half of the one-week tuition, when the local chapter provides a matching or larger scholarship.
The name of the participating child(ren) must be submitted to the Finlandia Foundation National office by February 28, 2011. Selection will be made on a first-come first-serve basis, first-
time campers receiving priority.
This scholarship can be used as part of the tuition for a multi-week session at Salolampi. The individual scholarship funds will be transferred directly to Concordia Language Villages. Each
scholarship recipient is requested to submit a report about their Salolampi experience by August 31, 2011.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 92298
Pasadena, CA 91109-2298
Physical Address:
470 West Walnut Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
Phone: (626) 795-2081 • Fax: (626) 795-6533
Email: office@finlandiafoundation.org
http://www.finlandiafoundation.org
2010 Soiva Music Camp at Salolampi
The chapter voted to make a $250 donation to the Soiva Music Camp.
Soiva Music Camp is an international chamber music experience that brings together the best music teachers and students, ages 11 to 17, from Finland and the U.S. In addition to the camp held in Minnesota, the first camp in Finland is planned for the city of Rauma next year.
Here are details to refresh your memory, courtesy of Jeanne Doty:
Please encourage everyone you know to tell just one student about it.
For more information including a video and photos, please go
to http://www.finlandiafoundation.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=39706&PID=578335
(if previous link does not work, please go to http://www.finlandiafoundation.org and click on Soiva Camp). or email Jeanne Doty at jdoty@d.umn.edu
Do it today!
Finlandia Foundation National is encouraging its member chapters to support the Salolampi Program.
Eight (8) scholarships, $300 each, are made available in 2011, covering approximately one half of the one-week tuition, when the local chapter provides a matching or larger scholarship.
The name of the participating child(ren) must be submitted to the Finlandia Foundation National office by February 28, 2011. Selection will be made on a first-come first-serve basis, first-
time campers receiving priority.
This scholarship can be used as part of the tuition for a multi-week session at Salolampi. The individual scholarship funds will be transferred directly to Concordia Language Villages. Each
scholarship recipient is requested to submit a report about their Salolampi experience by August 31, 2011.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 92298
Pasadena, CA 91109-2298
Physical Address:
470 West Walnut Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
Phone: (626) 795-2081 • Fax: (626) 795-6533
Email: office@finlandiafoundation.org
http://www.finlandiafoundation.org
2010 Soiva Music Camp at Salolampi
The chapter voted to make a $250 donation to the Soiva Music Camp.
Soiva Music Camp is an international chamber music experience that brings together the best music teachers and students, ages 11 to 17, from Finland and the U.S. In addition to the camp held in Minnesota, the first camp in Finland is planned for the city of Rauma next year.
Here are details to refresh your memory, courtesy of Jeanne Doty:
- 2010 Soiva Music Camp at Salolampi will be held 14- 20 June.
- Instruction is offered in piano, flute, clarinet, composition, and violin (new this year) to students ages 11-18.
- Applications submitted in February enjoy all the “early bird” prices.
- 2010 Soiva Music Camp at Salolampi changes lives one note at a time.
- There is no other place on earth to experience 2010 Soiva Music Camp at Salolampi.
Please encourage everyone you know to tell just one student about it.
For more information including a video and photos, please go
to http://www.finlandiafoundation.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=39706&PID=578335
(if previous link does not work, please go to http://www.finlandiafoundation.org and click on Soiva Camp). or email Jeanne Doty at jdoty@d.umn.edu
Do it today!
Christmas Greeting from President Halonen of Finland
Independence Day greetings from the President of the Republic of Finland to expatriate Finnish communities, 6 December 2010:
Finland is part of a globalising world. We are a Member State of the European Union and are actively involved in numerous international organisations, such as the United Nations. Our
economy has also undergone a rapid process of internationalisation. Globalisation has brought economic opportunities, but also an increasing set of challenges.
The mobility of people has also increased. People move to and from Finland at all stages of life. For young people, internationality comes naturally. In the years of active employment many people work abroad for a certain period of time or even leave Finland permanently. For some, retirement may entail a move abroad, if only for part of the year.
You, Finns living abroad, are in an important role as ambassadors for Finland and Finnish culture in your own communities. You also bring influences from foreign cultures to Finland, enriching Finnishness. The networks you have created abroad are invaluable. It is important for all of us that your ties to your home country remain strong.
I send you my warmest greetings on the 93rd anniversary of Finland’s independence.
Tarja Halonen
President of the Republic of Finland
Finland is part of a globalising world. We are a Member State of the European Union and are actively involved in numerous international organisations, such as the United Nations. Our
economy has also undergone a rapid process of internationalisation. Globalisation has brought economic opportunities, but also an increasing set of challenges.
The mobility of people has also increased. People move to and from Finland at all stages of life. For young people, internationality comes naturally. In the years of active employment many people work abroad for a certain period of time or even leave Finland permanently. For some, retirement may entail a move abroad, if only for part of the year.
You, Finns living abroad, are in an important role as ambassadors for Finland and Finnish culture in your own communities. You also bring influences from foreign cultures to Finland, enriching Finnishness. The networks you have created abroad are invaluable. It is important for all of us that your ties to your home country remain strong.
I send you my warmest greetings on the 93rd anniversary of Finland’s independence.
Tarja Halonen
President of the Republic of Finland
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