WHAT'S NEW:
(updated September 7)

Pasi Hyökki started August 1 as the new music director of the Tapiola Choir. More information.

Public concerts in the Autumn 2008

During its 45 years of existence, the Tapiola Choir has become one of the most renowned children's and youth choirs in the world, famed for its excellence, adventurousness and its distinctive sound - named by critics as the Tapiola Sound.

The repertoire of the choir is very versatile and the choir is as well at ease when singing Chateau de l'âme of Kaija Saariaho as when in jazz concert, performing the jazz suite composed by Heikki Sarmanto for the Tapiola Choir. It is familiar for the choir to perform both classical concert music as well as folk music. Many Finnish and foreign composers - amongst them Bergman, Busto, Kortekangas, Kostiainen, Lindberg, Linkola, Mamiya, Pohjola, Rautavaara, Sallinen, Schafer - have composed for this choir. It is characteristic for the choir, that besides singing in the performances there is also movement and instrumental music. All the choristers play at least one instrument and often instrumental ensembles gathered of choristers accompany the singing.

The international activity of the choir is active and it gives concerts abroad regularly. Singing in over 40 languages underlines the international commitment of the Tapiola Choir, because always performing the songs in their native languages belongs to the principles of the choir.

Many critics have noticed the atmosphere in the Tapiola Choir. The joy of singing and playing, apparent ease and permission to be a child is transmitted to the audience by demanding performances. The choir cherishes individuality and encourages responsible freedom. This brings a unique nuance to the music; at its best the music becomes natural and expressive. It is unconstrained in interpretation, the sounding board through which the whole young, creative human being functions.

The choir won the Silver Rose Bowl, the highest honour of the BBC Let the Peoples Sing competition in the year 1971, and in the year 1996 it was the first music organization to be awarded ''The UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of the Performing Arts''. In autumn 2005, the Tapiola Choir was nominated as Youth Choir of the Year of Finnish Broadcasting Company.

The Tapiola Choir has recorded its repertoire on over 20 discs and also appears on dozens of compilations.

The prime co-operation partners
and supporters of the choir are :