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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula July 17, 2007 Press release © 2007 and photos courtesy Finlandia University. Reprinted with permission.

Sibelius Academy musicians to perform July 18, 19, 20 at Calumet Theatre

HANCOCK -- Each year Finlandia University and the Sibelius Academy of Helsinki, Finland, collaborate to bring a sample of Finnish musical excellence to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The only concert series of its kind in North America, this year’s festival takes place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, July 18-20, at the historic Calumet Theatre in Calumet, Mich. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Kegel Trio will perform Wednesday, July 18. Paavo Maijala, piano, Lauri Sallinen, clarinet, and Vuokko Lempiäinen, viola, are all post-graduate students at the Sibelius Academy. The chamber music trio is named for "Kegelstatt," the nickname of a composition that Mozart wrote for piano, viola and clarinet, while allegedly participating in a game of skittles, a bowling-like game popular in Austria. Kegelstatt means "skittle alley" in German. They will perform the works of Mozart, Gothóni, Kurtág, Schumann and Kalevi Aho.

The Kegel Trio, post-graduate students of Sibelius Academy, will perform chamber music at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18, at the Calumet Theatre. The musicians are, from left, Paavo Maijala, piano; Vuokko Lempiäinen, viola; and Lauri Sallinen, clarinet. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)

Soprano Jenni Lättilä, accompanied by pianist Mikko Haapaniemi, will perform Thursday, July 19. Both Jenni and Mikko are pursuing their second master’s degrees at the Sibelius Academy. Jenni has studied and performed many soprano roles and participated in recitals, concerts and vocal competitions in Finland and internationally. In addition to piano, Mikko has studied organ and voice. He was a finalist in a recent National Competition for Lied Pianists, and has performed widely in Finland. They will perform compositions by Sibelius, Wagner, Bernstein, Kuula and Merikanto.

Soprano Jenni Lättilä will perform Thursday, July 19, at the Calumet Theatre as part of the Sibelius Academy concert series. She will be accompanied by pianist Mikko Haapaniemi. Both are pursuing their second master’s degrees at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)

Solo pianist Tuomas Kyyhkynen will perform Friday, July 20. His program includes compositions by Bach, Mozart, Sibelius, Scriabin, Brahms, Chopin and Liszt. Tuomas has just completed his first year of a 5-year master’s degree program at the Sibelius Academy. He began playing piano at age four. At age ten, Tuomas won first prize in a youth piano competition, and at age eleven he recorded a professional CD and played as an orchestra soloist with the Tapiola (Finland) Sinfonietta. He has been awarded multiple prizes and performed as a soloist for many Finnish orchestras, including his debut with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in 2005.

Prize-winning solo pianist Tuomas Kyyhkynen will perform compositions by Bach, Mozart, Sibelius, Scriabin, Brahms, Chopin and Liszt on Friday, July 20, at the Calumet Theatre. Kyyhkynen, who began playing piano at age four, is enrolled in a master's program at Sibelius Academy.  (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)

Tickets are $15 for the general public. Purchase all three shows and receive a discount. Calumet Theatre Members, $10 per night. To purchase tickets, call the theatre at 906-337-2610. Visit www.calumettheatre.com for seating 
information.

For additional information, please contact Finlandia University at 906-487-7348 or visit
www.finlandia.edu.