In English

Photo Jorma Pulkkinen

Join Us!

If you consider joining our singing ranks, you are more than welcome. Understanding and speaking Finnish is an advantage but not totally necessary. Most choir members speak English and some Russian.

Because of our rather hectic rehearsing 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. You can come to our practice on Tuesdays in the Lappee church hall at Kirkkokatu 10 at 6 o’clock in the evening, but it is easier for you if you contact our chairman as then you are expected and someone is there to welcome you for sure; just in case there is a last-minute change of location.

More information can be found on the choir’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/KlassinenKuoro).

ryhmä kuorolaisa unkarilaisen rakennuksen edessä
Photo Boris Karandassov
Kuoro esiintymässä Kehruuhuoneella
Photo Jorma Pulkkinen

Our Choir

Etelä-Karjalan klassinen kuoro (South Karelian Classical Choir) is a choir that mainly 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. The choir is a mixed choir of around 40 active members.

Our choir is registered association, so every member of the choir pays a membership fee. In 2024 the membership fee of choir’s member is 75 € for spring semester, and 75 € for 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.

Our weakly rehersals are led by cantor Jonna Imeläinen, who has also Master’s Degree in Music and is professional singing pedagogue.

kapellimestari Toomas Kapten ja varajohtaja Jonna Imeläinen
Toomas Kapten, photo Jorma Pulkkinen. Jonna Imeläinen, photo Tiiu Suomalainen
avoin nuottikirja ja äänirauta pianon koskettimilla
Photo Boris Karandassov

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).