in Kaustinen 5th.-7th. May
IV International Kantele Competition takes place in Kaustinen, Finland!
Come and listen how kantele music sounds in and outside Finland when 60 ensembles in every age and music style compete! The competition starts with Kantele Night on Friday at 8.30pm at Hotel Kansanlääkintäkeskus where we celebrate Perhonjokilaakso area’s strong kantele tradition. On stage will be the groups Kaustisen kanteleet (in the photo), Aila Rauhalan kanteletytöt and Erkki & tytöt.
All competition events are free of charge and open for public, welcome!
Contact: Leeni Wegelius +358 50 564 5966
Competition site and other important places in Kaustinen
Meals are available at Kansanlääkintäkeskus.
You can find mealtimes, menus and prices here.
The schedule is stated below.
You can find the precise rehearsal and performance times here.
Competition schedule
Folk Arts Centre is open on Friday 16-21, Saturday 7-21 and Sunday 7-18
5th of May Kantele Night
8.30pm in Hotel Kansanlääkintäkeskus (Pajalantie 24, Kaustinen)
Traditional kantele music. Performers: Kaustisen kanteleet, Aila Rauhalan kanteletytöt and Erkki & tytöt. Free of charge, open for public. There is a possibility to eat buffet supper from 6pm to 9 pm.
6th of May The Competition: children’s event KanteleKimara, Youth category, Professional category
Folk Arts Centre (Kansantaiteenkeskus, Jyväskyläntie 3, Kaustinen)
10.30-13.20 Museosali: Youth category, art music
10.45-13.15 Konserttiina: Youth category, folk music and other music
11.00-14.00 Kaustinen Hall: children’s event KanteleKimara
14.05-15.45 Konserttiina: Professional category, folk music and other music
14.10-15.30 Kaustinen Hall: Professional category, art music
The Fair is open throughout the competition days in Kalliosali. There are instrument builders and other interesting enterpreneurs of music industry.
17.00-19.00 The Final concert
The concert with performances from the day’s competition and the distribution of prizes for KanteleKimara and youth category.
7th of May The Competition: Open category
Folk Arts Centre (Kansantaiteenkeskus, Jyväskyläntie 3, Kaustinen)
9.30-10.40 Kaustinen Hall: Open category, other music, large ensembles
11.35-14.30 the category continues in Museosali with small ensembles
10.00-10.40 Museosali: Open category, folk music, small ensembles
11.00-12.05 the category continues in Kaustinen Hall with large ensembles
12.20-14.30 Kaustinen Hall: Open category, art music
The Fair is open throughout the competition days in Kalliosali. There are instrument builders and other interesting enterpreneurs of music industry.
16.00-17.30 The Final concert
The concert with performances from the day’s competition and the distribution of prizes for open and professional categories.
Kantele Association and Kantele Teachers association want to thank the partners and prize donators of the IV International kantele competition:
Kaustisen kunta (the commune of Kaustinen), Kaustisen Kansantaiteenkeskus Oy (Kaustinen Folk Arts Centre), Kansanmusiikki-instituutti (Folk Music Institute), Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, Kaustisen kirkonkylän Martat
Eversheds Asianajotoimisto Oy • Folklandia / Pispalan sottiisi / Suomen Nuorisoseurat • IMU – Inkoon musiikki • Kansanmusiikki-instituutti • Kaustinen Folk Music Festival • Kaustisen Näppärit ry • Lovikka Ky • Melodia Soitin • Oy Karl Fazer Ab • Satumusiikki • Sibelius-Akatemian tukisäätiön Martti Pokela -rahasto • Soitinverstas Jyrki Pölkki • Stringpurée Band • Temps Oy • Teollisuuden Vesi • Tmi Erkki Okkonen • Tmi J-A Kallioinen and Kantele Association’s 40 Year Anniversary’s Patroness Jenni Haukio, Spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland
Kantele Association is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2017. Together with Kantele Teachers’ Association we will arrange the IV International Kantele Competition in Kaustinen, Finland from 5th to 7th of May 2017 in co-operation with Kaustinen commune, Kaustinen Folk Arts Centre, Kaustinen Folk Music Festival and Folk Music Institute. We welcome every kantele and related instrument ensemble from all around the world to compete and enjoy the competition regardless of genre, age or group size!
Kaustinen has a unique kantele tradition that is still going strong. A whole kantele playing style has been named after the river that runs through Kaustinen and nearby areas: the Perhonjokilaakso technique.
The important kantele pioneer Kreeta Haapasalo was also born in Kaustinen in the beginning of the 19th century. Kreeta Haapasalo was among the first Finnish artists who performed around the country and even abroad earning her living through touring. She was also one of the first musicians to give a voice to Finnish folk culture through her kantele playing and singing. She was an important figure in the Golden Age of Finnish arts which by enforcing the national identity and evoking a sense of pride for our own culture partly led to Finland’s declare of independence in 1917. Therefore kantele also has a valuable part in Finland’s celebration of 100 years of independence in 2017.
Though Kaustinen is small, it has strong international connections. Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is already celebrating it’s 50th anniversary. Since Kaustinen, Finland and Kantele Association are celebrating their important milestones the same year what could be a better place for our kantele competition?
See you in Kaustinen, Finland in 2017!
Yours sincerely,
Leeni Wegelius
The Producer of the IV International Kantele Competition
Kantele Association and Kantele Teachers’ Association
28th of October in Espoo, Finland
Info letter 21.3.
Dear participant of the IV International kantele Competition, The final timetable rehearsal times included can be found here. Please check the time table as soon as possible and inform the producer immediately if you notice any mistakes. As we have mentioned before,...
Info letter 23.2.
Repertoire registration deadline 28.2. and timetables for every category The repertoire registration deadline for the IV International Kantele Competition is getting near. All ensembles except children’s event KanteleKimara ensembles must register their repertoire...
Info letter 19.2.
Contact persons, please make sure that everyone gets the info in these posts. All emails don’t work for some reason or the mail boxes can be full. Important information about accommodation (English version in bold letters) Please note that if you have previously send...
Info letter 14th of February 2017
Dear participant of the IV International Kantele Competition, This info letter contains a lot of valuable information, please read it through carefully. The schedule You can find the preliminary schedule for the competition here . Please note that this is not the...