Värttinä Line-Up
SUSAN AHO - vocals.
Playing accordion since the age of 13, she played accordion on Värttinä's Vihma album before moving to vocals. Previously involved at Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, she also now works with the puppet theatre Sampo. Susan is also now in the duo Kuunkuiskaajat with Johanna Virtanen.
MARI KAASINEN - vocals.
Mari is an original Värttinä singer and co-founder from Rääkkylä, Karelia. Her first public performance took place at the age of 2 ?. During her career she's studied classical singing, accordion and fiddle and majored in folk voice in Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department. Partly because of her own North Karelian roots and dialect, she's always been keen on Kalevala poetry and has become the main lyricist for Värttinä. She now maintains a career simultaneous with her life in Värttinä, teaching voice and kantele in Helsinki and participating in outside projects.
JOHANNA VIRTANEN - vocals.
Johanna studied folk music at the Central Ostrobothnian Conservatory in Kokkola and is now studying folk music and singing at Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department. Also plays harmonium, kantele and 2-row accordion. She joined Värttinä in 2001. Johanna is also now in the duo Kuunkuiskaajat with Susan Aho.
HANNU RANTANEN - basses.
Hannu Rantanen is one of Finland's top bassists. Having studied and now teaching at Helsinki Pop Jazz Conservatory and brilliantly skillful on double bass and electric bass, Hannu has been involved with numerous Finnish groups and orchestras including UMO Big Band, Pepa Päivinen Trio, Raoul Björkenheim Triad, Unto Tango Orchestra, Rajaton, Avanti, Helsinki Symphony and Lahti Symphony. Hannu has also played with international stars: John Adams, Wayne Krantz, Larry Coryell, Django Bates, Anders Bergcrantz, Ted Curson and Luis de Matteo. He also does music for theatre.
MATTI KALLIO - accordion, keyboards.
Matti Kallio is a musician from Helsinki, Finland. During his career he has been engaged in numerous projects of different musical styles. Matti's instruments are the piano and keyboards, 2- and 5-row accordion, Irish whistles, flute and vocals.
Matti has worked as a musician with Värttinä as substitute accordionist on previous tours. He has also worked with Finnish popular singers Hector, Vesa-Matti Loiri and Anna Eriksson. He has arranged music for a cappella groups such as Rajaton and Club for Five, and composed music for the Reykjavik City Theatre in Iceland. Matti has been taught accordion playing by Maria Kalaniemi, Jackie Daly and Mairtin O'Connor. He has also completed a master's degree in music from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
TONI PORTHEN - drums, percussion.
Toni Porthen, one of Finland’s best drummers, has studied at Sibelius Academy Jazz department for ten years and played with countless bands and artists. Before Värttinä he has played with such names as MP4, Lenni-Kalle Taipale trio, Niklas Winter Japan Quartet and numerous other projects and sessions.
SUSAN AHO - vocals.
Playing accordion since the age of 13, she played accordion on Värttinä's Vihma album before moving to vocals. Previously involved at Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, she also now works with the puppet theatre Sampo. Susan is also now in the duo Kuunkuiskaajat with Johanna Virtanen.
MARI KAASINEN - vocals.
Mari is an original Värttinä singer and co-founder from Rääkkylä, Karelia. Her first public performance took place at the age of 2 ?. During her career she's studied classical singing, accordion and fiddle and majored in folk voice in Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department. Partly because of her own North Karelian roots and dialect, she's always been keen on Kalevala poetry and has become the main lyricist for Värttinä. She now maintains a career simultaneous with her life in Värttinä, teaching voice and kantele in Helsinki and participating in outside projects.
JOHANNA VIRTANEN - vocals.
Johanna studied folk music at the Central Ostrobothnian Conservatory in Kokkola and is now studying folk music and singing at Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department. Also plays harmonium, kantele and 2-row accordion. She joined Värttinä in 2001. Johanna is also now in the duo Kuunkuiskaajat with Susan Aho.
HANNU RANTANEN - basses.
Hannu Rantanen is one of Finland's top bassists. Having studied and now teaching at Helsinki Pop Jazz Conservatory and brilliantly skillful on double bass and electric bass, Hannu has been involved with numerous Finnish groups and orchestras including UMO Big Band, Pepa Päivinen Trio, Raoul Björkenheim Triad, Unto Tango Orchestra, Rajaton, Avanti, Helsinki Symphony and Lahti Symphony. Hannu has also played with international stars: John Adams, Wayne Krantz, Larry Coryell, Django Bates, Anders Bergcrantz, Ted Curson and Luis de Matteo. He also does music for theatre.
MATTI KALLIO - accordion, keyboards.
Matti Kallio is a musician from Helsinki, Finland. During his career he has been engaged in numerous projects of different musical styles. Matti's instruments are the piano and keyboards, 2- and 5-row accordion, Irish whistles, flute and vocals.
Matti has worked as a musician with Värttinä as substitute accordionist on previous tours. He has also worked with Finnish popular singers Hector, Vesa-Matti Loiri and Anna Eriksson. He has arranged music for a cappella groups such as Rajaton and Club for Five, and composed music for the Reykjavik City Theatre in Iceland. Matti has been taught accordion playing by Maria Kalaniemi, Jackie Daly and Mairtin O'Connor. He has also completed a master's degree in music from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
TONI PORTHEN - drums, percussion.
Toni Porthen, one of Finland’s best drummers, has studied at Sibelius Academy Jazz department for ten years and played with countless bands and artists. Before Värttinä he has played with such names as MP4, Lenni-Kalle Taipale trio, Niklas Winter Japan Quartet and numerous other projects and sessions.
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