YOUNG VOCAL COLLECTIVE FROM HELSINKI,
Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret (Sabrina and the Daughters of the Isles), has sparked wide interest and stands out in the Finnish choir scene with its own unique Kanteletar  repertoire. Kanteletar, which can be roughly interpreted as “goddess of the kantele”, is a collection of Finnish folk poetry, compiled in the beginning of the 19th century.

The collective’s music is based on songs composed by founder Sabrina Ljungberg (Master of Music, Sibelius Academy 2018) and they are worked on by means of improvisation. Kanteletar’s poems about the life of a young woman turn out to be surprisingly current in the hands of Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret.

Quintessential to the collective of roughly twenty female members is candid expressiveness and dramatic tension. The group’s concerts are put into effect in collaboration with visual artists, dancers, light artists, and featuring musicians. Furthermore, the collective has expanded its way of conveying music in the guidance of professional choreographers and body percussionists, which has made physical movement and improvisation an integral part of the collective’s music.

Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret was chosen for the final of the international Aarhus Vocal Competition in choir category as the only Finnish group, and won the 2nd prize and the prize for the most innovative performance. The final was held on 1st of June 2019 at Aarhus, Denmark.

In 2017 Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret took part in Tampere Vocal Music Festival and was awarded with three silver stamps. Additionally, the group received praise on its inclusive and original performance, and the collective was chosen to perform in the closing concert of the Chorus Review.

In the fall of 2017 the collective arranged communal Kanteletar workshops aimed at young women as part of the official Finland 100 years programme. In 2017 the group composed and performed Christmas concerts titled Kantelettaren joulutarina (Kanteletar’s Christmas Tale). The project was executed with the help of financial aid from Karelian culture society. 

As of now, the collective is working on a collectively composed concert titled Ainon tarina (The Story of Aino) which will premiere in 2021 as part of the collective’s 5-year anniversary celebrations.

Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret has been supported financially by The Finnish Cultural Foundation, The Carelian Culture Association and The Finnish Music Foundation, among the others.

Nuoren naisen elämäntaidolliset opit kaikesta siitä, mitä koulussa ei meille opetettu. Kuka opettaa meille kuinka rakastaa, pitää huolta itsestään, huolehtia taloudestaan, kehostaan, kohtaamaan surun, kärsimyksen , käsittelemään häpeää ja surua? Miten löytää oma potentiaali ja löytää oma unelmien ura? Miten riisuutua kaikista niistä maskeista, joita me luulimme, että meidän pitäisi pitää yllämme, jotta voisimme lopulta vihdoin tulla siksi miksikä meidän alunperin luotiinkin.

Podcastilla yritän riisua oman maskini ja katsoa mitä tapahtuu. Opettaa ja inspiroida niin itseäni kuin muitakin elämän yksinkertaisilla oivalluksilla. 

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