Turku Music Festival invites local choirs to participate in the Night of the Arts

Photo: City of Turku

The Turku Music Festival (TMF) will again participate in the Night of the Arts in Turku, this year with the Joki soi! (River Rings!) programme. The event has been designed by TMF Artistic Director Lauri Porra, who wants to invite all Turku residents to a community singing event on the banks of the Aurajoki River.

Join us to bring the magic of community singing around Turku on the Night of the Arts!

TMF brings together cultural experiencers and creators as the Night of the Arts brings the city’s citizens together with the Joki soi! (The River Rings!) event. The evening starts with the choirs’ own concerts around the city, before they travel together for a community sing-along on the Library Bridge. The event will be led by choir director Pasi Hyökki, who has also curated the music for the evening.

TMF is looking for choirs to participate in the event through Lyyti registration. Any local choir ensemble can participate in the event. Choirs are asked to prepare their own programme for their own performing spots, as well as the programme below for the Library Bridge community singing. Knowledge of the entire predefined programme is not a prerequisite for participation in the event, but the TMF invites all those who wish to join in a warm-hearted sing-along. TMF will act as coordinator and promoter of the event.

The event is funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Participate in the event by filling in the registration form here (in Finnish). Please include the size and level of your choir, your programme proposal, the planned performing spot (before the Library Bridge) and a contact person. After the application deadline, we will ask the selected choirs to submit marketing photos and portfolios, which will be used to promote the event. If necessary, TMF can suggest spots for performing for the choirs. Please note that there is no fee for performing. TMF will promote the event and the participating choirs as part of the festival weeks in August.

Application period: 1.4.2025–30.5.2025

Appointing of choirs by 18.6.2025

Date of the event: 14.8.2025

18:00-19:00 dress rehearsal [location to be announced]

20:30-21:00 own concerts of the choirs

21:15-21:45 transition (singing)

22:00-22:30 community singing event on the Library Bridge

Procession song: Varsinaissuomalaisten laulu

Fredrik Pacius / Emil von Qvanten: Suomen laulu

Toivo Kuula / V. A. Koskenniemi: Auringon noustessa (Nää, oi mun sieluni…)

Piae Cantiones: Ad perennis vitae fontem (Ikielon lähtehelle)

F. A. Ehrström / J. L. Runeberg, transl. E. Lönnrot / arr. Martti Turunen: Lähde (”Sua joki kaunis…”)

Toivo Kuula / Eino Leino: Hautalaulu (Levoton on virta…)

Leevi Madetoja / V. A. Koskenniemi: Katson virran kalvohon

Suomal. kansanl. / arr. Ilkka Kuusisto: Iltalaulu (Tääll’ yksinäni laulelen…)

Leevi Madetoja / Aleksis Kivi: Onnelliset (Jo valkenee kaukainen ranta…)

Suomal. kansanl. / V. A. Koskenniemi / SATB-arr. Pasi Hyökki: On suuri sun rantas autius

Jean Sibelius / V. A. Koskenniemi: Finlandia-hymni

Anna Rantala, producer, Turku Music Festival
anna.rantala@tmj.fi

Best regards,
Lauri Porra, Artistic Director, Turku Music Festival
Pasi Hyökki, choir leader
Jussi Merikanto, Managing Director, Turku Music Festival