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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula March 12, 2002 Press release © 2002 Jim Kurtti of the Finnish-American Heritage Center

Karelian Folk Music Ensemble to perform in Hancock March 15 

HANCOCK -- The Karelian Folk Music Ensemble (KFME), a three-member group of highly trained musicians from Petrozavodsk, Karelia, Russia, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15, at the Finnish-American Heritage Center in Hancock, and at local schools, as part of a Midwest tour.

The Karelian Folk Music Ensemble, who will perform on March 15 at the Finnish-American Heritage Center in Hancock and at local schools, play hand-crafted folk instruments and appeal to all ages. (Photo courtesy Finnish-American Heritage Center)

The KFME includes two members of the popular Myllärit band and Igor, the bell ringer of the famous island church of Kizhi. All three members began classical music training by age 5 and have been professional musicians all their lives. Their primary music interest champions the music heritage of their homeland, Karelia, which has musical influences from both Finland and Russia.

These talented musicians have a vast knowledge of traditional folk music. They have an engaging, and often humorous, stage presence, which allows them to appeal to audiences of all ages. The group has performed at dozens of schools during previous U.S. tours. Given the strong Finnish presence in the Upper Peninsula, the KFME's offerings are all the more poignant and appealing. In addition to concerts, the group will conduct presentations at local schools.

Tickets for the performance are $7 ($5 for children) and are available either at the door, or by contacting Heritage Center Director Jim Kurtti at (906) 487-7302. Both one hour prior to and immediately after the concert, the public is invited to a coffeehouse, where fine Finnish coffee, Karjalan piirakka, pannukakkua, juustoa and other traditional delicacies can be purchased. During this time, concert-goers will be able to visit with the performers in an intimate setting. Proceeds from the coffeehouse benefit the Finnish-American Heritage Center.

The KFME plays a wide variety of music, ranging from eastern Finnish songs to Finnish-American tunes. From the Land of the Kalevala is their most recent CD, released by Gadfly Records in January 2001. This recording includes a mix of instrumental and vocal pieces in Finnish, Russian and Karelian.

For information, bookings, or scheduling an interview with the group, call Jim Kurtti at (906) 487-7302.

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