FINLAND 100 MUSIC PROGRAM 2017 Finlandia Foundation National 100 Music Program

inlandia Foundation National (FFN), the e have developed a • Additional activities (i.e., a program with multiple workshop) are negotiated premier network of Finnish-American W F opportunities for our chapters between the artist and organizations in the United States, is looking to host a concert or event suited chapter. forward with excitement to the celebration of the to their interests, audience and ote that not all artists are budget. As with our traditional Navailable at all times. Due 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence Performer of the Year program: to visa requirements, specific in 2017. We are encouraging FFN chapters to • FFN will assist in connecting periods for appearances by plan Finland 100 events throughout the year chapters with the artists. performers from Finland must be observed. under the theme of the centennial chosen by the • FFN will pay for the artist’s travel to and from the f you’re interested in booking Finnish government, “Together.” performance location (to a Ian appearance for 2017, maximum of $500). inform POY Coordinator n addition to the grant of up to $1,000 per • Local arrangements (ground Betsey Norgard at norgard@ Ichapter that FFN is making available to assist transportation, lodging paulbunyan.net. She will make your initial contact with the with events, we have enlisted an impressive and hospitality) are the responsibility of the host performer and review with you selection of artists that FFN is supporting with chapter. the available dates, booking procedures and other details. funds to ensure that we in the U.S. will create • The host chapter will work a year-long celebration befitting this important with the artist to ensure that All negotiations, agreements equipment and staging needs and arrangements are strictly milestone. are met. between the host chapter and Together. • FFN will provide the chapter a the talent. flyer with artist information. For information about the FFN • Each chapter will publicize its grant of up to $1,000 available event. to chapters see the Finland • The host chapter will pay each 100 grant information at performer an honorarium as FinlandiaFoundation.org. On the cover: Janne Mertanen noted. SPOTLIGHT PERFORMERS

inlandia Foundation Their available performance FNational is pleased to periods are noted. present these Spotlight onorarium is $500 per musicians from Finland for FFN HSpotlight appearance. chapter appearances in 2017.

da Elina: One of the leading (in English) and lovely and ibelius Inspiration: The multimedia concert is an kantele performers in traditional Finnish tunes. SFinnish cellist Jussi experience. Sibelius’ compelling I Makkonen and pianist Nazig music, the narration and the Finland and a groundbreaking n her concerts audiences Azezian perform a moving videos filmed for the concert artist, Ida Elina boldly leaps experience the versatility of I program that evokes the bring nature, as seen by the boundaries to take her kantele just one instrument and voice, Finnish natural world that composer, palpably close to the playing to new levels. In appreciating how ancient folk inspired . listener. developing her unique style the songs, classical music and singer-songwriter was inspired today’s pop tunes go hand in hrough music, video, There are specific requirements by virtuoso slap guitar playing. hand. And, Ida Elina hopes, Tsound and light, audiences for staging this production. For She is recognized as the first listeners will be inspired by her are transported to the floral information: pop-kantele player in the world. story to live a fearless life. splendor of the garden at Ainola, sibeliusinspiration.com the magical moss forest at dusk, With her percussive approach For information: idaelina.com Available in February, March and vivid voice, Ida Elina’s and top of the impressive Koli in and October 2017. repertoire fluidly moves between Available from mid-April through the midst of a thunderstorm. Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” mid-May 2017. CLASSICAL & CONTEMPORARY FINLAND hese artists---Marja Liisa Their available performance anne Mertanen: The and received the Grand Prix TKay, Janne Mertanen periods are noted. pianist completed his studies in the sixth International J Record Competition du Disque and Laura Mikkola---present onorarium is $500 per at the in Frédérick Chopin 2005. familiar music in a new light. Happearance. Helsinki and the Accademia Pianistica Internazionale in is program includes Imola, Italy. across the globe. She enjoys HFinnish music spanning sharing the gift of music with Mertanen was selected as the the century of independence, audiences far and wide, and is Young Artist of the First Espoo by composers including well-versed in the vocal music of International Piano Festival Jean Sibelius, Einojuhani Finland’s composers. in 1991, and gained greater Rautavaara, Joonas Kokkonen, notice in 1992 as the winner Heino Kaski and Oskar or Finland 100, Dr. Kay of the International Chopin Merikanto. offers a program for voice F Competition in Darmstadt, and piano of Finnish music from Mertanen is the artistic director Germany. He also won first widely varying genres, to include of the Joensuu Music Festival. prize the same year in the popular Finnish folk and tango He is a Steinway artist. Nyborg Nordic Competition. His songs, well-known classical For more information: orchestral engagements and pieces by Finnish masters, jannemertanen.com recitals have since taken him and some contemporary works around the world. Available September 8-October of living Finnish composers. 2, 2017. The program promises to Mertanen has released more arja Liisa Kay: A soprano reach audiences of all ages than a dozen recordings Mknown for her performance and varying levels of musical of contemporary music, interests. she holds a Ph.D. from the Hear samples of her recordings University of York in England at marjaliisakay.com and MFA from California Institute of the Arts. She is Available throughout 2017 for dedicated to the performance Saturday afternoon and evening and promotion of contemporary concerts and Sunday afternoon music, yet enjoys singing works concerts nationwide, as well as within all genres. Dr. Kay has weekday evening concerts in premiered principal roles in southern California. new , worked as a studio singer for James Horner during research sessions for the feature filmAvatar , and has sung PAST PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR

aura Mikkola: The Finnish She has toured the world, everal of our POY from onorarium is $400 per Lconcert pianist studied performing with the Los Angeles Sprevious years are available Happearance. at the Sibelius Academy in Philharmonic, Mariinsky to appear at your Finland The program is available Helsinki, the Curtis Institute Theatre Orchestra, Helsinki 100 celebrations in 2017. The December 1, 2016 through of Music in Philadelphia and Philharmonic Orchestra, the number of participating artists December 31, 2017. Note that Indiana University Bloomington, National Symphony Orchestra may grow; check the FFN not all artists will be available with such renowned pedagogues in Washington, D.C., and more. website for the latest list. at all times. as Tapani Valsta, Menahem er many recordings include Pressler, Gary Graffman, Dmitri Hthe three concertos of employs electronics to Baskirov and Ferenc Rados. lli Hirvonen (POY 2014): , which complement and enhance the She has won international The Finnish jazz guitarist are part of her repertoire O sound of the electric guitar piano competitions in Helsinki, is currently living in New York along with works by Sibelius, without the use of any pre- Pretoria and St. Jean-de-Luz, City. In his solo concerts, he Saariaho, Chopin and others. recorded materials. and second prize at the Queen combines free improvisation Mikkola is the artistic director Elisabeth Piano Competition with familiar Finnish melodies For information: of Finland’s Iitti Music Festival in Belgium. and soundscapes. Hirvonen ollihirvonen.com each June. Mikkola has collaborated Available in 2017 throughout with Esa-Pekka Salonen, May and October 1-15, November Leif Segerstam and Vladimir 15-30 & December 15-31. Ashkenazy, among others. aria Männistö (POY aria Kizirian (POY M2007): The Seattle soprano honors Finnish and American 2012): The Los Angeles- raig Randal Johnson M song traditions in a concert ara Pajunen (POY (POY 1999): The based singer-songwriter has a 2015): Laatikko/Box is a C “big” voice, which she uses in featuring the music of Jean Minneapolis musician’s S Sibelius and Samuel Barber. conceptual work that blends program, “Piano Music from a wide array of both original Her program includes Sibelius’ acoustic vocal and violin music Finland,” features the works of compositions and popular bright and lyrical “Illalle,” with words from Minnesota significant Finnish composers Finnish pop songs, mainly from his touching, impressionistic immigrants, taken from from the national romantic contemporary Finnish music. “Kaiutar,” and the romantic historical Finnish-American period to the present. Johnson Kizirian adds a mix of evergreen “Var det en dröm.” It also archives and interviews includes, among others, the Finnish songs made more features Barber’s moving conducted with recent music of Sibelius, Madetoja, modern in her unique style. summertime idyll “Knoxville: immigrants to the state from all Kuula, Rautavaara, Bergman For information: Summer of 1915,” set to an over the world. and Tuhkala. He closes with mariakizirian.com autobiographical text by James A portrait of change, Laatikko/ Finlandia. Agee. The 45-minute program Box asks us to find similarities For information: tonttu.com Kizirian is available throughout may be modified in length. rather than differences, to slow the year, with limited dates in Johnson is available much of For information: down and take in the emotion of July. the year, with limited dates in mariamannisto.com leaving one place for another. April, early May, and October- Männistö is not available in For information: December 2017. February or June 2017. sarapajunen.com ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING

ach year FFN selects a directly related to Finland’s EPerformer of the Year and national independence and Lecturer of the Year to provide identity. The program runs entertaining and enlightening through May 2018. programs to its chapters. The following are also available e are looking forward for appearances in 2017; Wto a year filled with the honorarium for each is entertaining and informative $500. For more information: programs celebrating the FinlandiaFoundation.org centennial of this important event in Finland’s history. PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

inlandia Foundation FNational, founded in Pasadena, California in 1953, administers grants, scholarships and programs supporting and celebrating Finnish heritage and Finnish-American culture and traditions. FFN is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information: FinlandiaFoundation.org

irjo Polari-Khan is a Pstoryteller, poet, musician and puppeteer with special appeal to young audiences. She is available from September 1, P.O. Box 92046 2016 through August 31, 2017. Pasadena, CA 91109-2046 Phone: 626.795.2081 Email:

CENTENARY LECTURERS [email protected] e have expanded our WLecturer of the Year program to feature a number of scholars to speak about topics