Sibelius Academy Music Festival July 19-21
Sibelius Academy Music Festival July 19-21
By KELLY FOSNESS, DMG Writer
CALUMET — For pianist Jari Tyni, one of the most precious qualities in music is its ability to affect one’s emotions and moods.
“It offers us escape from reality and gives us a way of dealing with our emotions,” he explains. “I don’t believe there is a single person that does not respond to music in some way.”
Tyni is one of six gifted, classical student musicians who will be arriving from overseas next week to perform in the eighth annual Sibelius Academy Music Festival, hosted by Finlandia University. Featuring students from the prestigious Sibelius Music Academy located in Helsinki, Finland, the festival brings to the United States a level of talent representative of the rich musical heritage of both Finland and Europe.
Performances will begin Monday at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Ill., and follow with a series of evening concerts at the Calumet Theatre July 19 through 21.
FU Director of Special Events Tami Anderson, who has attended performances in the past, said there’s one word that best describes the musician’s talent: exceptional.
“Most of them are what I would say are child prodigies,” Anderson says. “They are so talented. Some will probably go on to be world famous performers. Certainly many of the students that have graduated from the Sibelius Music Academy are known world wide.”
Performing Finnish folksongs and compositions by Kuula, Musorgksy, Sibelius and Hugo Wolf, Tyni will accompany soprano Lisbet Klockars, a collaboration which began at the music academy in 2003. In addition to performing regularly throughout Finland, the two have also won the National Finnish Polen Lied piano competition in 2004, among other accomplishments.
Although the performers are quite young, Anderson adds, they’re very well traveled.
“For some, it’s their first time in the United States, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t traveled all over Europe,” she says. “They’re very intelligent and rather worldly for their young age.”
Other feature performances include solo pianist Emil Holmstrom, who in addition to successfully competing in international piano competitions throughout Europe, has performed at festivals in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, France and Spain. Holmstrom will feature the works of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and others. “Trio Fugu and Tenpura,” featuring Emma Anttila, flute, Timo Jantti, bassoon, and Elisa Jarvi, piano, are all master’s or doctoral level students. Each has been successful in music competitions throughout Europe, and alongside music, the trio share a passion for Japanese cuisine, hence their name.
While the festival not only gives the student musicians an opportunity to come and perform concerts, Anderson said, it’s also a nice exchange program for the local community.
“Having them come here and experience our culture and especially the Finnish American culture, they all really enjoy that,” she adds. “They like spending time with the old, Finnish people in the area, they’re usually quite thrilled. The cultural experience for us and for them is so much fun.”
What makes the Sibelius Academy Music Festival unique, Anderson continues, is that unlike other classical performances that come to the area, this particular concert series involves students.
“They are exceptional performers,” she says. “It’s of the caliber of anything you might see with the Pine Mountain Music Festival or shows at the Rozsa Center.
“The thing to keep in mind is that they are students,” she reiterates. “Personally that’s what I think is impressive because they are still developing and refining their talent and education. Technically they’re not professionals but they’re certainly of that caliber.”
Finlandia University President Bob Ubbelohde, who has had the opportunity to become acquainted with a number of the Sibelius Music Academy students while accompanying them to previous performances in New York, Milwaukee and Minneapolis, said they are a “fun group of people.”
“Our goal is to give them a cultural experience in the United States,” he continues. “A number of students have gone on to win competitions, including a pianist who has done his own solo performance in the Kennedy Center. The Sibelius Music Academy selects outstanding, young performers.”
For more information about the concert series, or to purchase tickets for the Monday performance in Wheaton, Ill., contact Anderson at 487-7314 or tami.anderson@finlandia.edu. Contact the Calumet Theatre to purchase tickets for the July 19 through 21 performances at 337-2610 or by visiting www.calumettheatre.com.
Kelly Fosness can be reached at kfosness@mininggazette.com.
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