125th Anniversary Performance by Kent Washburn and Meri Siirala | Music of Martti Nisonen

In 1922, Martti Nisonen began his career at Suomi College, now Finlandia University, quickly gaining popularity as a profound teacher of music and prolific composer. Before his passing in 1946, Nisonen amassed more than 10 linear feet of compositions and arrangements now safely stored at Finlandia’s Finnish American Heritage Center and Historical Archive.

Kicking off its year of 125th Anniversary celebrations in December 2021, Finlandia held a Sunday worship service and its annual commemoration of Finnish Independence Day. The day was filled with musical renditions of Martti Nisonen’s music, hand-selected and performed by 2020-2021 Finlandia Foundation National Performer of the Year Kent Washburn and Finnish soprano singer Meri Sirrala, available for viewing below.

Finlandia’s year of anniversary celebrations will culminate this week during the Midsummer festival of Juhannus, June 20-25, with a full week of events. To learn more about FinnU’s125th Anniversary and to view the Juhannus schedule, visit finlandia.edu/125th.