The Sun’s High Rising – Finnish Choral Music

The Chamber Choir of the Kuopio Unit of the Sibelius Academy, conducted by Saara Aittakumpu

The Chamber Choir of the Kuopio Unit of the Sibelius Academy presents a wide-ranging programme of Finnish choral music, from well-known classics to contemporary works. The concert features beloved classics by Jean Sibelius and Toivo Kuula, less frequently heard national Romantic repertoire by Greta Dahlström and Armas Maasalo, and newer choral music. The latter includes Einojuhani Rautavaara’s *Halavan himmeän alla*, an impressive three-part cycle set to poems by Aleksis Kivi, and Anna-Mari Kähärä’s *Aurinkolaulu*, composed to a poem by Mika Waltari. The concert is conducted by Saara Aittakumpu, Lecturer in Choral Conducting.

**Chamber Choir of the Kuopio Unit of the Sibelius Academy**
The choir’s singers study church music at the Sibelius Academy in Kuopio. The choir is also joined by students from Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Kuopio Conservatory and the University of the Arts Helsinki Open University. Choral activity has played a significant role in church musician training at the Kuopio Unit of the Sibelius Academy since 1960, when training began in Kuopio. The choir works closely with musicians and congregations in the Kuopio region, as well as with organisations across Finland active in the field of church music. The choir is led by Saara Aittakumpu, Lecturer in Choral Conducting.

**Saara Aittakumpu**
Saara Aittakumpu is Lecturer in Choral Conducting at the Kuopio Unit of the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki, and Artistic Director of the chamber choir Kampin Laulu in Helsinki. She served as Artistic Director of the Polyteknikkojen Kuoro (PK) for more than ten years. She has also conducted the upper-voice choir Kaari-ensemble, which she founded, and Savolaisen osakunnan laulajat for many years. Aittakumpu graduated with a Master of Music from the Sibelius Academy’s programme in orchestral and choral conducting. She has conducted dozens of premieres and worked as chorus master in productions with major orchestras both in Finland and abroad, including at the BBC Proms. Aittakumpu has been awarded Best Conductor at international choral competitions, as well as the Finnish honours Choral Conductor of the Year and Choral Recording of the Year.

The concert is expected to last 1 hour 15 minutes and includes a short break of about 10 minutes.

Organised by: University of the Arts Helsinki, Kuopio Unit of the Sibelius Academy

Tickets: €19.60 / €12.60 pensioner / €6.60 student, unemployed person, conscript