Finlandia Foundation® National Our Mission is to sustain both Finnish-American culture in the U.S. and the ancestral tie with Finland by raising funds for grants and scholarships, initiating innovative national programs, and networking with local chapters. F A L L 2 0 1 4 SIBELIUS 150 JUBILEE By Marja Kaisla, Next year will be a Pianist and Chair, real Sibelius bonanza! Sibelius 150 In March the Seattle Jubilee Committee Symphony will perform all of his symphonies. e have a very The City of Buffalo Wexciting musical will host FinnFest year ahead of us. The USA in October, and entire world will be the Buffalo Symphony celebrating the 150th will perform works by anniversary of the birth Sibelius throughout the of Finnish composer festival. In Philadelphia Jean Sibelius, who was the Curtis Institute also the first patron of will co-host a Sibelius Finlandia Foundation vocal and chamber National! music evening. Finnish- American musicians Besides producing Elina Snellman-Lang, Sibelius events, FFN Katri Ervamaa and I has asked its 46 local will play chamber music chapters in 22 states concerts by Sibelius and Washington, D.C. and other Finnish to partner with local composers across the cultural organizations U.S. to present a variety of Sibelius-related events e even have pianist in 2015. This way we WRuusamari Teppo, can maximize exposure the great-granddaughter and bring awareness of Sibelius, performing of the great composer multiple times in and Finnish music and Oregon and Washington culture in general to American audiences as well as state with cellist Jussi Makkonen. And the list those with ancestry in Finland. goes on. To find a Sibelius event near you, go to the Sibelius 150 Jubilee calendar on the FFN website at o far we have nearly 40 events underway all FinlandiaFoundation.org. Looking forward to seeing Saround the United States, with more created you at the many Sibelius 150 Jubilee events! each week. They range from school concerts to a major orchestra devoting an entire month to Note: Deadline for FFN Sibelius 150 Jubilee symphonic works by Sibelius; commissioning grant applications is February 2, 2015. For more original music by a Finnish composer to producing information see page 9. an original play about the life of Sibelius. knowledgeable speakers from the Alexander Word from the President Institute attached to the University of Helsinki. It In Search of the FFN Hyvät Ystävät: was very helpful for understanding what is going on in the immediate neighborhood of Finland. Performer of the Year s you see in ne of the most popular programs of Finlandia That event was preceded by two seminars on the our cover story, Foundation National is its Performer of the A occasion of the 75th anniversary of the infamous O we have been Year (POY), featuring live entertainment by an Molotov-Ribbentrop agreement, which was one of working hard on artist whose talent is related to Finnish and the main causes of the Winter War. Quite dramatic the Jean Sibelius Finnish-American culture. FFN selects and presentations described the situation in Finland, its 150th anniversary sponsors the POY, who commits to travel and immediate region and Europe at large, with Foreign program for 2015. The appear at events hosted by any of the 46 FFN Minister Erkki Tuomioja giving the “official” Finnish Sibelius 150 Jubilee chapters across the country. is important to view of the situation/events. The POY, who must reside in the U.S., will Finlandia Foundation, nother significant conference took place in receive a travel stipend of $7,000 to make at least as the composer Turku, organized by the John Morton Center A eight appearances during the 12-month period was the first FFN (JMC) attached to the University of Turku. JMC between September 1, 2015 and August 31, 2016. patron and his music began in 2014 and is focusing on North America A committee will review applications and select has always been and the United States in particular. It will gradually the POY early in 2015; postmark deadline for meaningful to us. develop and become a research institute and think applications is February 14, 2015. We will have updates tank comparable to the Alexander Institute. During on Sibelius 150 Jubilee activities at our website and the conference an advisory council was set up, ll types of solo entertainers are welcome to in our free, monthly E-newsletter; please sign up for chaired by Ambassador Jarmo Viinanen, former Aapply. While most POY have been vocalists it at our website: FinlandiaFoundation.org. Finnish U.N. Ambassador and chief of the cabinet and instrumental musicians, FFN will consider to the President of Finland. I was asked to become any talent that appeals to a range of ages and is We have of course been active on many fronts, a member of the advisory council, representing consistent with the goals of FFN. including offering first class Lecturers (LOY) and Finlandia Foundation, and to attend my first Performers (POY) of the Year to FFN chapters. meeting in Turku in early December. The POY must be nominated by an FFN chapter or Applications are now being accepted for the next other Finnish-American organization, or an FFN POY as well as our grants and scholarships; see the A general observation from my stay in Finland: for trustee. An artist may not self-nominate. If not FFN to be known and heard it is absolutely essential selected an artist may apply again, but a POY may stories in this issue. Current POY Olli Hirvonen has several appearances lined up that we are active in social media. The traditional serve only once. at FFN chapters; see the schedule at FinlandiaFoundation.org. ast year the bipartisan Friends of Finland ways of communicating through TV, radio and The jazz guitarist is available for POY appearances through print media are becoming obsolete. Many are aware Find POY guidelines and the list of 46 FFN LU.S. Congressional Caucus was founded to August 2015. Information is on the FFN website or contact Satu chapters, trustees and information about FFN at: strengthen the ties between the U.S. and Finland of this, but for me it was a revelation. The first Mikkola at [email protected]. and serve as a forum for dialog between the question that came up when talking about FFN was, FinlandiaFoundation.org. governments. Recently at the Finnish Embassy I “Are you on Facebook and Twitter?” (We are.) I felt met one of the Caucus Co-Chairs, Congressman a bit behind the times; perhaps not surprising for Dan Benishek of Michigan, and spoke with him somebody born at the time of the Winter War. about Finlandia Foundation. FFN will remain in Expat Parliament Session Schedule of the 2015 session: communication with the 30-plus caucus members. Wishing you the best for the Christmas Season and winter ahead! Set for May ’15 in Helsinki • February 22 Registration deadline for I was fortunate to spend time in Finland this participating organizations summer and attend several interesting events. By Satu Mikkola, FFN Trustee and FEP Delegate • February 22 Deadline for submission of initiatives. A seminar at the end of August in connection Ossi Rahkonen Each member organization is entitled to submit with FinnFest Helsinki focused on Russia, with President he eighth session of the Finnish Expatriate initiatives to the parliamentary session TParliament (Ulkosuomalaisparlamentti) will be held at the University of Helsinki Friday-Saturday, • April 10 Names of the participants and FFN BOARD Richard Ahola Satu Mikkola George Sundquist Mailing address: committee choices to be submitted to Suomi- [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] P.O. Box 92046 May 22-23, 2015. PRESIDENT Dundee, NY Poulsbo, WA Redwood City, CA Seura, the Secretariat of FEP at: suomi-seura.fi. Ossi Rahkonen Pasadena, CA 91109-2046 [email protected] Dennis M. Anderson Betsey Norgard Paul Suomala 626.795.2081 All Finnish expatriate organizations can participate • May 21 Regional meeting; Region USA and McLean, VA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] in the work of the FEP. New member associations are Moorhead, MN Latin America VICE PRESIDENT Rochester, MN Bovey, MN Finlandia Foundation.org welcome to join and attend the session by ratifying Paul O. Halme Janet Arvonen Kniffin Jon Saari Päivi Anneli Tetri the FEP bylaws. The information and ratification • May 22-23 Parliamentary Session [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] The newsletter is produced Solvang, CA Simsbury, CT Marquette, MI St. Louis, MO twice yearly by the FFN forms are available at the FEP website: usp.fi. For additional information contact FEP Regional TREASURER Marja Kaisla Tarja Silverman Hanna Wagner Communications Committee: Speaker Marita Cauthen ([email protected]) or Dirk Schulbach [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Jacqueline Harjula, chair; very member organization that has ratified the Alternate FEP Speaker, Region USA and Latin dschulbach@comcast. Philadelphia, PA Greystone, NY Washington, D.C. Janet Kniffin, Betsey bylaws of the FEP is entitled to send a net E America Satu Mikkola ([email protected]). Portland, OR Peter Mäkilä Anita Häkkilä Smiley Contact Finlandia Norgard, Tarja Silverman representative to the parliament. Currently 521 [email protected] [email protected] Foundation National: Finnish expatriate organizations in 37 countries are SECRETARY Lake Worth, FL Preston, CT Editing and production by For more information: usp.fi. Jacqueline Harjula Maria Kizirian, Assistant to members of the FEP. There are no financial [email protected] the Board of Trustees Kath Usitalo Thomaston, ME [email protected] responsibilities or privileges in membership. 2 3 ith Finnish Partner Organizations, a new Salolampi Broadens Wprogram this year, the Salolampi Foundation FINDING THEIR FINNISHNESS offered reduced tuition and a scholarship of up to Programs, Audience $150, matching a scholarship from a partner By Betsey Norgard, FFN Trustee organization.