A major residency in Finland by the European Union Youth Orchestra 1-4 April will see 95 young musicians from 27 EU member states working with young Finnish musicians, showcasing Europe’s latest community music education approaches, and with a special Concert for Peace
Peace, security, respect for fundamental rights and freedoms: these are some of the core values of the European Union embodied by the European Union Youth Orchestra, whose musicians are visiting Finland from 1 to 4 April in their first major appearance in Finland since 2004. The Orchestra, composed of the most young talented musicians from across the EU, is one of the world’s pre-eminent symphony orchestras, and has been described by the UK Guardian as having “gripping, exhilaratingly good orchestral playing, surging with energy, laser-sharp focus and collective daring... [with] a technical prowess that is downright terrifying”, and by former EU commission President Jean-Claude Juncker as “the best possible ambassador for the European Union”.
The EUYO visit to Finland will consist of concerts with world class artists, innovative side by side activities with young Finnish musicians, open rehearsals, cultural debate, community activities across Helsinki, and workshops with local young musicians in Tampere. It will climax in a concert on 3 April in Musiikkitalo, part of a series of PEACE IN EUROPE concerts taking place in countries across Europe from the Baltic to the Mediterranean and the East of Europe to the North Sea, all dedicated to the cause of peace in Europe and to highlighting the plight of victims of violence. The EUYO has a great tradition of presenting peace concerts, with recent events such as commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War in the presence of world leaders in Paris in 2018, and in Berlin in 2014 and 2019.
“We are absolutely delighted to be coming to Finland for our first major project in Helsinki since 2004, and I would like to pay tribute to all of our partners who have helped to make this residency possible.” commented Marshall Marcus, EUYO Secretary General, “Now more than ever, we feel that the message of our work - peace, harmony, and the positive value of young people working together – is vital, and I can think of no better place in Europe for this than Finland, a country which understands and exemplifies these values so well. With such appalling suffering in Ukraine as we are currently witnessing, everyone knows that art and culture needs to stand up and be counted as a force for peace; when the voice of peace is of young people working together, it becomes the greatest possible catalyst for a better future”.
1 APRIL– Arrival in Finland
The EUYO and Sibelius Academy musicians meet up on the EUYO’s arrival, beginning to get to know each other in advance of performing together at Musiikkitalo in the following days.
2 APRIL– Helsinki COmmunity Day
HELSINKI MUSIC GALLERY sees EUYO musicians spread out across the city performing chamber music in a huge variety of venues, including the Encanto café, the Oodi and Malmitalo libraries, the Stoa Culture Center in Itäkeskus, the Cable Factory, the Allas Sea Pool and the Helsinki City Museum. The performances will include more than 70 pieces of music from more than 60 composers from across the world. A chance to hear something new for free!
EUROPE SIDE BY SIDE at the Musiikkitalo Sonore Hall will see students of the Sibelius Junior Academy and the Tempo Oulu El Sistema Orchestra join EUYO musicians and perform together under the direction of Finnish conductor Taavi Oramo in rehearsals, and a free event (although seats will be limited)
YOUNG EUROPE SPEAKS is a part of the European Year of Youth 2022, with 95 EUYO musicians and up to 100 young Helsinki musicians and dancers and guests will take part in an open discussion and debate about the future of culture for young people in Europe, moderated by Dr. Guadalupe López-Íñiguez, and presented by the EUYO, The Observatory for Arts and Cultural Education Finland and The Center for Educational Research and Academic Development in the Arts, in cooperation with the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.
3 APRIL– CONCERT DAY
OPEN REHEARSAL for students of the Sibelius Academy and the Regional Music Schools before the concert.
THE Helsinki CONCERT FOR PEACe in europe at Musiikkitalo presents world-famous Hungarian maestro Iván Fischer and Finnish violinist Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä with the EUYO in a unique programme of three concertos, the first half from Finnish composers, and the second culminating with Bartok’s virtuosic Concerto for Orchestra. The concert will include a special peace element and is dedicated to promoting peace and understanding through music and cooperation.
The LATE-NIGHT SESSION follows the concert: one of the EUYO’s legendary club evenings with EUYO musicians chatting with guests and the audience, and music from across the world from the most classical to the most informal.
APRIL 4 – SHARING MUSIC in Tampere
SHARING MUSIC IN tAMPERE sees a group of EUYO musicians rehearse and perform in the Tampere Conservatory in an educational day together with young musicians of the Tampere Conservatory, the Tempo El Sistema Tampere Orchestra, the Pirkanmaa Regional Music Academy and the Tampere University of Applied Sciences. They will rehearse and perform together in the spirit that will infuse the entire residency: young people sharing and learning together. The musical programme includes a selection of various genres of music culminating in a final ‘all-together’ performance of a piece that symbolises peace in Europe: Ludwig van Beethoven’s Hymn to Joy from his Symphony No. 9
PARTNERS
The residency is in cooperation with the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and organised in partnership with Finnish institutions and private persons including the EU Commission Representation in Finland, Erkki Liikanen, Punavuori Chamber Music Association (PuKama), City of Helsinki, Sibelius Academy, Musiikkitalo, Tempo El Sistema programme, Oodi Helsinki Central Library, Culture Factory Korjaamo, Encanto Café, Malmitalo library, Stoa Culture Center in Itäkeskus, Allas Sea Pool, Helsinki City Museum, Vuotalo Suburban Culture House, the Cable Factory, the Rock Church, Tampere Conservatoire, Pirkanmaa Regional Music Academy and Tampere University of Applied Sciences. We give particular thanks to the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, without whom Young Europe comes to Finland would not have been possible.
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