Finlandia's 2010 Sibelius Festival is September 19 to 25

HANCOCK, MI - The 12^th annual Finlandia University Sibelius Academy Music Festival will take place September 19 to 25, 2010.

Six international musicians from the prestigious Sibelius Music Academy of Helsinki, Finland, will present a series of six concerts at locations in the Upper Peninsula and in metropolitan Chicago.

From Finland, PAJU is a folk duo with Pauliina Pajala, who plays fiddle, viola, and nyckelharpa (a traditional Swedish string instrument), and Juulia Salonen who plays harmonium, wind instruments, and flutes. This versatile and colorful duo has delighted audiences throughout Finland with their playful and spontaneous performances of modern and traditional Finnish and Finnish-Swedish folk tunes and their own compositions. Visit PAJU's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/pajuduo.

From Spain, Duo Aguirre & León will perform selections from their contemporary music repertoire at this year's Sibelius Festival. Arantza Aguirre, accordion, with Ana León, clarinet, have performed numerous concerts and music festivals in Barcelona and other cities in Spain. Of the six music competitions the duo entered in 2008 and 2009, all of them in Spain, Arantza and Ana won four first prizes and two second prizes.

From Estonia, classical musicians Maria Aru, piano, and Liis Joamets, violin, will perform well-known and rarely-played musical compositions from the Classical era until the 20^th century. They believe their program will be interesting to both professional musicians and music lovers.

Concert tickets may be purchased at North Wind Books, Hancock, on-line at http://finlandia-university.ticketleap.com, or at the door prior to each performance.

For additional information about the 12^th annual Sibelius Academy Music Festival, please contact Robin Bonini at 906-487-7205 or robin.bonini@finlandia.edu.

 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - 12th Annual Finlandia University Sibelius Festival Music Festival

Sunday, September 19, 2:30 p.m.

Performance: PAJU, a folk duo; Duo Aguirre & León, a contemporary music duo; and classical music duo Maria Aru, piano, and Liis Joamets, violin
Location: Estonian House, 14700 Estonian Ln., Riverwoods, IL (A meal will be served prior to the concert at 1:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $25, adults; $10 students and seniors; $20 for adults purchasing a meal (not including meal price); children under 12 years attend free

Tuesday, September 21, 7:00 p.m.

Performance: PAJU, a folk duo (Pauliina Pajala: fiddle, viola, and nyckelharpa (a traditional Swedish string instrument) and Juulia Salonen: harmonium, wind instruments, and flutes.
Location: Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy St., Hancock, MI
Tickets: $10, adults; $5, students; children under 12 years attend free

Wednesday, September 22 (Start time TBA)

Performance: A free concert for Ishpeming-area public school music students with PAJU, a folk duo; Duo Aguirre & León, a contemporary music duo; and classical music duo Maria Aru, piano, and Liis Joamets, violin
Location: Peterson Auditorium, 319 E. Division St., Ishpeming, MI
Tickets: $5 for community members

Thursday, September 23, 7:00 p.m.

Performance: Classical music duo Maria Aru, piano, and Liis Joamets, violin
Location: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1000 Quincy St., Hancock, MI
Tickets: $10, adults; $5, students; children under 12 years attend free

Friday, September 24 (Tentative, start time TBA)

Performance: A free concert for Houghton County area public school music students with PAJU, a folk duo; Duo Aguirre & León, a contemporary music duo; and classical music duo Maria Aru, piano, and Liis Joamets, violin
Location: Calumet Theatre, 340 6th St., Calumet, MI
Tickets: $5 for community members

Saturday, September 25, 7:00 p.m.

Performance: PAJU, a folk duo; Duo Aguirre & León, a contemporary music duo; and classical music duo Maria Aru, piano, and Liis Joamets, violin
Location: Calumet Theatre, 340 6th St., Calumet, MI
Tickets: $10, adults; $5, students; children under 12 years attend free

Concert tickets may be purchased at North Wind Books, Hancock, on-line at http://finlandia-university.ticketleap.com, or at the door prior to each performance.

For additional information about the 12^th annual Sibelius Academy Music Festival, please contact Robin Bonini at 906-487-7205 or robin.bonini@finlandia.edu.

For the most accomplished student-musicians in Finland and around the world the Sibelius Academy is the destination for the best and brightest. The prestigious Sibelius Academy, founded in 1882 and named for Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, is one of the largest and best regarded music academies in Europe.

Finlandia University is a learning community dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service. Founded in 1896 as Suomi College, Finlandia is the only private, not-for-profit institution of higher education in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It is one of 24 colleges affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Finlandia offers 2- and 4-year degrees in disciplines of liberal studies, health sciences, business, and fine art and design. Finlandia is a member of NCAA Division III. Visit the university's website at www.finlandia.edu.