In English
Photo Jorma Pulkkinen
Join Us!
If you would like to join in with our singing ranks, you are more than welcome. Understanding and speaking Finnish is an advantage, but not totally necessary. Most of the choir members speak English, German, Swedish, and even some Russian.
Our weekly rehearsal is on Tuesdays in the Lappee church hall at Kirkkokatu 10, Lappeenranta at 6 o’clock in the evening. Once a month we also have intensive rehearsals over the weekend.
Because of our rather hectic rehearsal schedule, knowing how to read music is mandatory. One does not need to be a master at it, just to know generally one’s way around a music sheet. There is an audition before joining. It is not a terrible experience, we have all got over it.
Before joining us, please contact the chairman of our choir or our choral director, and ask for an audition.
More information can be found on the choir’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/KlassinenKuoro).
Our Choir
Etelä-Karjalan klassinen kuoro (South Karelian Classical Choir) is a mixed choir based in Lappeenranta. The choir has around 40 active members and focuses on performing large compositions for choir and orchestra such as Masses and Oratorios. The choir also performs a cappella and sometimes also ventures from church music to folk music and contemporary music.
Our choir is registered association, so every member of the choir pays a membership fee. In 2024 the membership fee for each choir member is 75 € for the spring semester, and 75 € for the autumn semester. Students and unemployed get 50 % discount on membership fee.
Conductors
The roots of the choir date back to the early 1980s and since the year 1990 the choir has been firmly but gently guided by its artistic director and conductor professor Toomas Kapten, who is the head of the conducting department in the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Under Kapten’s lead the choir has gained the appreciation of its audience and a reputation as a high-standard amateur choir capable of very challenging choral works. Professor Toomas Kapten leads our monthly weekend rehearsals.
Our weekly rehersals are led by cantor Jonna Imeläinen, who also has a Master’s Degree in Music and is a professional singing pedagogue.
Programme
Among the works performed by Etelä-Karjalan Klassinen kuoro are for example the Requiem by Mozart as well as Duruflé, Rutter and Fauré and the Christmas Oratorio by J.S. Bach. Works of the Estonian composer Veljo Tormis have also been performed over the years. The music we perform can be found in Finnish under the link ”Konsertit” (Concerts).