Global Music at Sibelius Academy

Global Music at Sibelius Academy The Global Music Programme at Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.

10/12/2025

This special symposium highlights cultural and linguistic diversity as central elements and core strengths of a thriving cultural field in Finland. The theme is inspired by the work of musician, composer, and educator, Fredrik Pacius (1809-1891), who made ground-breaking contributions to the development of music and music education in Finland.

Engaging meaningfully with new, emerging, and intersecting qualities of difference and diversity requires constant reimagining of the ways in which artists and educators can navigate this complex, dynamic environment. In 2025, this has become increasingly important as our world faces further division, polarisation, and enormous societal and environmental challenges, calling for artists, educators, and researchers to continually re-evaluate and re-imagine their roles and responsibilities.

This symposium features students, teachers, and alumni from Sibelius Academy’s Global Music Programme. The symposium is kindly supported by the Pacius fund, within the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland. The Pacius prize 2025 will be announced and awarded as part of the symposium.

Performers

Merve Abdurrahmani (Finland / Kosova), piano, voice
Adriano Adewale (Brazil), berimbau, percussion
Jaakko Arola (Finland), bass clarinet
Sebastián Castrillón Arcila (Colombia), cello
Daniel Al Attrash (Syria / Sweden), qanun, voice
Fernando Salazar Boza (Peru), guitar
Mirza Bushra Fatema (Bangladesh), voice
Hadi Hrekes (Syria), percussion, voice Baraka Issabu (Tanzania), percussion
Alisa Khodos (USA), violin
Humphrey Mubba (Tanzania), bass and voice
Sara Majidi Nejad (Iran), qanun
Apeal Paudel (Nepal), sarod and voice
Livia Schweizer (Italy), flute
Arman Soltani (Iran), percussion
Aizhan Sultan (Kazakhstan), voice
Aarne Toivonen (Finland), drums
Nathan Riki Thomson (Australia / Aotearoa), double bass
Melisa Yildirim (Türkiye), kamancha
Mehrnoosh Zolfaghari (Iran), santoor

08/12/2025

FREE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL

10-12 December 2025, Helsinki Music Centre: FULL PROGRAMME AT THE LINK IN BIO

Global Fest 2025 is the 10th edition of an annual festival featuring students, teachers, alumni, and special guests representing Sibelius Academy’s Global Music programme.

Bringing together artists from many corners of the world, the Global Music programme focuses on diversity, difference, and intercultural collaboration through highlighting unique artistic voices and creating new artistic work together.

Expect a feast of dynamic, innovative, inspiring concerts and events, featuring performers from around the world celebrating the diversity of our planet.

This year’s festival also includes a special symposium supported by the Pacius fund, within the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland.

WEDNESDAY 10th December

🌀12:00: Transcultural Ensembles, Sonore Hall

🌀18:00: Arabic Ensemble and Persian Ensemble, Sonore Hall

🌀20:00: LEVÄHDYS/UNWIND: Devina Boughton, Black Box

THURSDAY 11th December

🌀12:00: Global Orchestra, Sonore Hall

🌀17:00: Fredrik Pacius Symposium IV: (Re)imagining diversity and difference as core strengths of a thriving cultural field in Finland. FEATURING 20 LIVE PERFORMERS, Sonore Hall.

🌀20:00: Manu Rosales: VOLVER SIGUIENDO (Return in Continuation), Black Box

FRIDAY 12th December

🌀12:00. Karaka-tum, Sonore Hall

🌀18:00. YHTÄ: Joni Vierre, Black Box

🌀20:00: Adeshina Omotola: GLORYSOUND (Songs of the Seraphim), Sonore Hall

FREE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL10-12 December 2025, Helsinki Music Centre: FULL PROGRAMME AT THE LINK IN BIO Global Fest 202...
16/11/2025

FREE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL

10-12 December 2025, Helsinki Music Centre: FULL PROGRAMME AT THE LINK IN BIO

Global Fest 2025 is the 10th edition of an annual festival featuring students, teachers, alumni, and special guests representing Sibelius Academy’s Global Music programme.

Bringing together artists from many corners of the world, the Global Music programme focuses on diversity, difference, and intercultural collaboration through highlighting unique artistic voices and creating new artistic work together.

Expect a feast of dynamic, innovative, inspiring concerts and events, featuring performers from around the world celebrating the diversity of our planet.

This year’s festival also includes a special symposium supported by the Pacius fund, within the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland.

WEDNESDAY 10th December

🌀Sonore 12:00: Transcultural Ensembles

🌀Sonore 18:00: Arabic Ensemble and Persian Ensemble

🌀Black Box 20:00: LEVÄHDYS/UNWIND: Devina Boughton

THURSDAY 11th December

🌀Sonore 12:00: Global Orchestra

🌀Sonore 17:00: Fredrik Pacius Symposium IV: (Re)imagining diversity and difference as core strengths of a thriving cultural field in Finland.

🌀Black Box 20:00: Manu Rosales: VOLVER SIGUIENDO (Return in Continuation)

FRIDAY 12th December

🌀Sonore 12:00. Karaka-tum

🌀Black Box 18:00. YHTÄ: Joni Vierre

🌀Sonore 20:00: Adeshina Omotola: GLORYSOUND (Songs of the Seraphim)

Global Fest 2024 ScheduleLess than a week left until we meet! Bring your friends and family for an unforgettable celebra...
05/12/2024

Global Fest 2024 Schedule

Less than a week left until we meet! Bring your friends and family for an unforgettable celebration of music and diversity.

Free Entry to all performances!

See you soon at Global Fest 2024—don’t miss out on this vibrant celebration!

Here’s a few shots from last night’s lovely (and fully-booked!) concert in three chapters at Arkadia bookshop. Thanks fo...
25/05/2024

Here’s a few shots from last night’s lovely (and fully-booked!) concert in three chapters at Arkadia bookshop.

Thanks for joining us 🙏

An Evening of Music in Three Chapters If you enjoyed our Global Spring festival then you’ll be pleased to know that we h...
18/05/2024

An Evening of Music in Three Chapters

If you enjoyed our Global Spring festival then you’ll be pleased to know that we have another event for you next Friday 24th May at Arkadia International Bookshop!

We invite you to an evening of music, in three chapters:

18:00 - Juho Tuomainen
18:30 - TRIPTYCH: Ana Lazar (ft. Shafeeq Alsadi - شفيق السعدي , Spiros Delegos, Juho Tuomainen).
19:00 - HIRAETH: Geneviève Andræssen (ft Zoe Bossuyt , Carla Duret, Ida Marie Jessen , Markus Snellman, and Juho Tuomainen).

Free entry!
*Please note that space is limited (venue capacity is 40), so send us a DM if you want to reserve a space. Any remaining spaces will be allocated (first come first serve basis) on the night.


GLOBAL SPRING 🌞 FRIDAY 17TH MAY Global Spring Fest comes to a close on Friday 17th May with four more events including a...
11/05/2024

GLOBAL SPRING 🌞 FRIDAY 17TH MAY

Global Spring Fest comes to a close on Friday 17th May with four more events including a rare timbila performance and workshop from visiting Mozambican musician Matchume Zango!

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All events:

Body per­cus­sion per­for­mance

Global music students collaborate with the International School of Music Finland and Helsinki International School to present a unique body percussion performance.

🕐 12:30 – 13:30
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free

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Samba de Roda: A Celebration of Afro-Brazilian Culture (workshop)

Samba de roda is the oldest form of samba originating in rural areas of Bahia state and it has strong African roots. In this workshop the participants have a unique opportunity to experience samba de roda in a dynamic way by playing the rhythms with percussion instruments, clapping, learning traditional songs and by learning the basic steps of dance with simple exercises.

🕐 17:00 – 18:30
Musiikkitalo Dance Hall / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free

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Rhythm signs im­pro­vi­sa­tion per­for­mance

This workshop focuses on the art of rhythmic communication and collective creation. Central to this collaborative experience is real-time co-composition, where performers actively engage in choosing their instruments and shaping the music together.

🕐 19:30 – 20:00
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free

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Timbila Performance: Mozambique’s Musical Heritage

Embark on a journey into one of Mozambique’s most special musical traditions with a performance by celebrated Mozambican musician Matchume Zango dedicated to the timbila – a traditional xylophone instrument of Mozambique’s Chopi people, recognised by UNESCO as being part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

🕐 20:30 – 21:30
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free


GLOBAL SPRING 🌞 THURSDAY 16TH MAY On Wednesday 16th, Global Spring brings you four more fantastic events, most of which ...
10/05/2024

GLOBAL SPRING 🌞 THURSDAY 16TH MAY

On Wednesday 16th, Global Spring brings you four more fantastic events, most of which - like Ossi Raip­palinna's master’s concert - reflect this year’s focus on rhythm 🥁

All events:
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Mas­ters Tran­scul­tural En­sem­ble

Through a collaborative and open environment, the ensemble’s musicians strive to bring out their diverse and rich musical backgrounds, refreshed through the interaction between cultures.

🕐 11:00 – 11:45; 12:30 - 13:15
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free
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The Per­cus­sion­ist’s Mind:
Dialogue with Vija Moore, Sami Karkar and Markus Snellman

This discussion delves into the creative processes of three Global Music students – Vija Moore, Sami Karkar, and Markus Snellman – as they unveil their compositional inspirations, share their methods of communication with fellow musicians, and articulate their unique artistic expressions as percussionists.

🕐 18:00 – 19:00
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free

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8381km un­til here (Vija Moore)

‘8381km until here’ is an instrumental balafon and live-electronics solo performance that was composed in September 2023 and was first performed at the opening of annual contemporary art’s exhibition Survival Kit 14. I titled this performance ‘8381km until here’ because that is the distance between my place of origin (Latvia, Riga) and my balafon instrument’s origin (Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou).

🕐 19:00 - 19:30
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free
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Ossi Raip­palinna: The hat and the pockets

In his final master’s exam concert percussionist Ossi Raippalinna explores rhythm as a source for compositional ideas. The theme is represented through examples inspired by musical traditions like the Senegalese sabar, djembe, talking drum, frame drums, Scottish bodhran, and electronic beats. These genres share a common factor - a melodic approach to percussion playing.

🕐 19:30 – 20:30
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free


GLOBAL SPRING 🌞 WEDNESDAY 15TH MAY There’s a feast of music and rhythm on the third day of Global Spring, including Nema...
09/05/2024

GLOBAL SPRING 🌞 WEDNESDAY 15TH MAY

There’s a feast of music and rhythm on the third day of Global Spring, including Nemat Battah, Manu Rosales and Marcelo Chacur Politano's exploration of rhythm as a common language!

Performance Schedule:
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Chungu! - who take their name from an earthenware Tanzanian pot - is the Global Music 1st year Bachelors´ transcultural ensemble. The repertoire consists of co-arranged material and original compositions by the students.

🕐 11:00 & 12:30
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free

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Rhythm as a com­mon lan­guage

Within the realm of rhythmic expression, three exceptional artists Nemat Battah, Manu Rosales and Marcelo Chacur Politano share their personal narratives and insights on the intricate interplay between rhythm and their artistic endeavours.

🕐 17:30 – 19:00
Auditorium / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free
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Sami Karkar: Pierrot et la guerre (Pierrot and the war)

Pierrot was living in peace with their family when the war broke. Like everyone else, they must serve their country. Will Pierrot face a tragic fate, or will they escape the curse of the war?
Sami Karkar proposes a unique six-piece ensemble of vocalists/percussionists. The music draws on traditional Occitan singing and a blend of worldwide rhythmical traditions.

🕐 19:30 – 20:00
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free
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Markus Snell­man: Time and Space

‘Time and Space’ brings together two artists - Markus Snellman and Juho Tuomainen - to explore an interdependent play where percussive sounds evolve enfolded in ambient soundscapes, and seemingly still atmospheres are in turn transformed by a sense of time through rhythm.

🕐 21:00 – 21:30
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free
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GLOBAL SPRING 🌞 TUESDAY 14TH MAY On the second day of Global Spring, the festival hosts two events including Mehrnoosh Z...
08/05/2024

GLOBAL SPRING 🌞 TUESDAY 14TH MAY

On the second day of Global Spring, the festival hosts two events including Mehrnoosh Zolfaghari's master’s concert!

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Global Choir & Ara­bic En­sem­ble: Thinking of our Friends in Brazil

Inspired by visiting teachers from Brazil, Global Choir (an intercultural choir, open to all students of the Sibelius Academy) - and Arabic Ensemble (a Global Music ensemble led by lecturer Nemat Battah) share a small taste of their experience and inspiration.

🕐 12:30 – 13:30
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free

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Mehrnoosh Zolfaghari: Awakening

Deeply rooted in the rich traditions of Iranian classical music and drawing inspiration from her two years of study in Sibelius Academy’s Global Music Programme ’Awakening’ is Mehrnoosh’s master’s concert.

🕐 19:30 – 20:30
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free
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GLOBAL SPRING 🌞 STARTS 13TH MAY!This year’s Global Spring - our annual festival featuring students, teachers, alumni and...
07/05/2024

GLOBAL SPRING 🌞 STARTS 13TH MAY!

This year’s Global Spring - our annual festival featuring students, teachers, alumni and special guests representing Sibelius Academy’s Global music programme - kicks off with two concerts on May 13th by students Wanqui Long and Daniel Al Attrash!

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Daniel AlAt­trash: Sand Waves

Join Daniel and friends as they embark on a musical odyssey through the melodies and sounds of the Middle East.

🕐 12:00 – 13:00
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free

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Wanqiu Long (master concert)

Wanqiu’s original pop songs with influences from funk, disco, R’n’B, and experimental pop music. If you like to dance, the show promises to give you pure pleasure!

🕐19:30 – 20:30
Black Box / Helsinki Music Centre
🎟️ Free

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Osoite

TöölönlahdenKatu 16
Helsinki
00100

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