equality

What concrete actions have been taken to advance equality in the Finnish music industry? How can diversity be promoted? Researcher Heidi Partti, musician-pedagogue Puro Paju, festival director Linda Suolahti and communications head Sanni Kahilainen talk about programming, the possibilities of pedagogy and questioning the prevailing models.

“If we wish to experience music as a genuinely questioning, searching, challenging and revitalising art form, should it not reflect the diversity of the world around it much better?” Kimmo Korhonen interviewed two proponents of diversity and plurality in music: a researcher, Docent Juha Torvinen PhD from the University of Helsinki; and a musician, violinist Linda Suolahti, artistic director of the Musequal festival.

Endorsing equality in classical music in artistically meaningful and organic ways is no small endeavour. Yet, this was the very goal undertaken last weekend at Musequal Festival* in Janakkala, circa hundred kilometres north from Helsinki.

The Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble has a good vibe, on stage and offstage. This can never be taken for granted, though. Both the band and the cooperative that runs it – No Problem! Music – have undertaken active efforts to sustain that vibe. One of the elements in the underlying framework is an Occupational Safety and Health Action Plan jointly drawn up by the band and the cooperative.

A pioneer of Finnish violin repertoire and a virtuoso of the school of Joseph Joachim – handsome epithets that apply to composer and violinist Agnes Tschetschulin (1859–1942). She was the first star student of the Helsinki Music Institute (now the Sibelius Academy) and went on to create a prominent international career.

The history of Finnish music is unexpectedly rich in women who have written music. Nearly three dozen interesting personalities may be found in the 19th and early 20th centuries alone. The present series of articles discusses the lives and music of these women – an excellent opportunity for the reader to learn more about this largely unexplored group of Finnish classical composers. This first article serves as an introduction and also showcases a concert series given by violinist Mirka Malmi to give voice to this forgotten music.

In many respects, Finland is held up as a paragon of equality. Yet even now in 2018 equality has not been fully attained in the music sector. There is a drive to level the playing field, using tools developed jointly by operators in the field.