Kampin Laulu Chamber Choir

Kampin Laulu Chamber Choir is an ambitious group of about 40 singers, with a mission to explore new paths in choral music while also maintaining the great traditions of chamber choir singing. The members of the choir are experienced singers who seek to develop continuously both as individuals and as a group. While Kampin Laulu is not a profession for its singers, the choir always pursues professional quality in its work. 

The choir’s repertoire varies from Renaissance music to new choral music, with the emphasis being on music composed in the 20th and 21st centuries. During its history, the choir has premiered dozens of new works by Finnish composers. Since its founding in 1990, Kampin Laulu has participated successfully in several European choir competitions – most recently in Tallinn in 2015. 

Mission 

The mission of Kampin Laulu describes the choir’s long-term goals, purpose and culture – what the choir does and why. 

This is our mission statement: 

“Kampin Laulu is a Finnish top choir, which pursues its artistic ambitions with unwavering persistence and commitment, good humor and a relaxed atmosphere. The choir offers its audience holistic artistic experiences through a varied, new and even surprising repertoire. The choir’s repertoire and professional attitude help maintain the singers’ interest and motivation, and offer opportunities for development also for advanced singers. Members of Kampin Laulu can feel pride about being a part of this artistic community.” 

CV 

  • Founded in Helsinki in 1990 
  • Conductors: Timo Lehtovaara (1990–2005), Eric-Olof Söderström (2005–2010), Kari Turunen (2011–2019), Saara Aittakumpu (2019–) 
  • About 40 singers, most of whom have a strong musical background 
  • 3–6 concerts per year, as well as other performances and recordings 
  • Ensemble performances upon request (e.g. male/female/mixed quartet/octet) 

Competitions 

  • 2nd place in both Mixed Choirs and Early Music categories at the International Choir Festival “Tallinn 2015” in Estonia (2015) 
  • 1st place in Mixed Chamber Choir category, Gold Diplomas for Chamber Choir and Sacred Choir Music categories, and prize for Best Performance of Anton Bruckner’s work Christus factus est at the 1st International Anton-Bruckner Choir Competition & Festival held in Austria (2007) 
  • 3rd place in the International Harald Andersén Chamber Choir Competition in Finland (2003) 
  • Grand Prix and 1st place in Chamber Choir category at the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition in Hungary (2002) 
  • 1st place and three Gold Diplomas at the Tampere Vocal Music Festival in Finland (1997) 
  • 1st place at the Cork International Choral Festival in Ireland (1997) 
  • 1st place at the Klemetti Choir Competition in Finland (1996) 
  • Two Gold Diplomas at the Tampere Vocal Music Festival in Finland (1995) 
  • 3rd place in Chamber Choir category at the International Choir Festival “Tallinn ‘94” in Estonia (1994) 
  • Two Gold Diplomas at the Tampere Vocal Music Festival in Finland (1993)

Other key performances 

  • Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major together with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Helsinki Festival (2018) 
  • Maurice Duruflé: Requiem and Gabriel Fauré: Requiem at the Organ Night and Aria Festival in Espoo (2017) 
  • Lars Karlsson: Kohtauksia Suomen Sodasta – Kohti Haminan rauhaa opera oratorio together with Kymi Sinfonietta in Hamina (2009) 
  • Michael Haydn: Requiem together with Avanti! Chamber Orchestra in Porvoo (2009) 
  • Music concerts in Espoo and Helsinki conducted by Topi Lehtipuu (2003) 
  • Concert tour in Australia (2003) 
  • Choir competition in France (2003) 
  • Concerts at the World Expo in Hanover (2000) 
  • European representative at the Taipei International Choral Festival in Taiwan (1998) 
  • Finnish representative at the Nordic-Baltic Choral Festival (1997)
  • Performances together with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra 

Commissioned works 

  • Teemu Tommola: Lähtö Knossoksesta (2016) 
  • Jaakko Mäntyjärvi: Väinämöinen uneksii lentävästä veneestään (2016)
  • Salla Hakkola: Mistä ei voi puhua mutta ei vaietakaan (2010) 
  • Anna Huuskonen: Portugalin kuu (2010) 
  • Miika Hyytiäinen: Umbra (2010) 
  • Lauri Mäntysaari: Yöllä (2010) 
  • Eric-Olof Söderström: Missa pro dimittendis peccatis (2010) 
  • Patrik Vidjeskog: Sea Pictures (2009) 
  • Lars Karlsson: Kohtauksia Suomen sodasta – Kohti Haminan rauhaa (2009) 
  • Tapani Länsiö: Armahan kulku (2002) 
  • Riikka Talvitie: Kuvan kuva (2001) 
  • Riikka Talvitie: Ihmisen määrä (2001) 
  • Sami Klemola: Matka (2001) 
  • Jaakko Mäntyjärvi: No More Shakespeare Songs? (2000) 
  • Kirmo Lintinen: Hala hippan (2000) 
  • Timo Hietala: Kädet (2000) 
  • Tom Bäckström: Tårar, i tre ord (2000) 
  • Juhani Komulainen: Keltainen nocturne (2000) 
  • Timo Lehtovaara: Landet som icke är (2000) 
  • Heikki Liimola: Neljä laulua Edith Södergranin teksteihin (2000) 
  • Reijo Kekkonen: À toi (2000) 
  • Benjamin Schweitzer: Wohlan (2000) 
  • Thilo Jaques: Einhorn (2000) 
  • Jukka T. Koskinen: Unicornus (2000) 
  • Manfred Stahnke: Unicorn’s Polyjump (2000) 
  • Jukka Linkola: Promootiokantaatti (2000) 
  • Ralf Nyqvist: Rafa (2000) 
  • Antti Ikonen: Tiedän paikan (2000) 
  • Kirmo Lintinen: Cantata Proverbiorum (1999) 
  • Juhani Komulainen: Cat Morgan Introduces Himself (1999) 
  • Säde Rissanen: Joulua odotellessa (1997), Olen löytänyt sen (1997)
  • Kimmo Kuitunen: The Tyger (1997, Kampin Laulu Ensemble) 
  • Reijo Kekkonen: I Seraillets have (1996), September (1996) 
  • Camilla Cederholm: Ave Maria (1996) 
  • Timo Tuovinen: Armo-messu (1996) 
  • Olli Pohjola: Yöllä Euroopassa (1994) 
  • Kimmo Nevonmaa: Psalmi 103 (1991) 

Recordings 

  • Participation in the album Sacred Songs - Psalms of the Church Year (2020) 
  • Jalat maassa (2017) 
  • Kivi sydämellä (2005) 
  • Kampin Kukot: Ihanainen (2004) 
  • Verba sapientes sacra (2000) 
  • Kadonneet lahjat (Christmas album, 1999) 
  • Something Rich and Strange (1998) 
  • Kampin Laulu female singers participated in the recording of Armas Launis: Aslak Hetta together with YL Male Voice Choir and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra 
  • Recording of hymns for the Finnish Broadcasting Company
  • Participation in Pekka Simojoki’s Christmas album (2002) 
  • Participation in the album Christmas in Ainola (2000) 
  • Participation in the recording of book of hymns from 1700–2001 (2001)
  • Participation in Markus Ketola’s solo album Tila (1998) 
  • Participation in CMX’s albums Rautakantele (1995), Discopolis (1996) ja Dinosaurus Stereophonicus (2000)