The Annual Get Together Of The Singing Heritage Route ry
This year in Joensuu, the Singing Heritage Route ry gathers partners for its annual meeting, featuring a concert, seminar on singing traditions and cultural tourism, guided tours, and cultural exchange.
16 – 18. April 2026 in Joensuu, Finland
Thursday April 16th:
Concert
18.00 Myrskyluodolta napapiirille (“From Stormskerry to the Arctic Circle”)
Joensuu City Orchestra
Venue: Carelia Hall, Yliopistokatu 4, Joensuu
Friday April 17th:
Seminar – Cultural tourism and Singing Traditions
Program
10.00 Pekka Suutari, professor in the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and student (UEF) Miikku Häkki: Karelian music and the besoda festivities for the young in Finland
10.30 Janika Oras, senior researcher in the Estonian Literary Museum: Estonian Singing Heritage
11.00 Lunch break (University)
12.00 Jadviga Mežniece, ethnomusicologist, representing Iniciatīvu un kompetenču atbalsta centrs: Latvian Singing Heritage and Cultural Tourism
12.30 Aušrinė Lasytė, researcher and musician: Lithuanian Singing Heritage and Cultural Tourism
13.00 Rune Bjerkli, Chair of the Board of the Kven Future – Yleiskielen Tulevaisuus in Norway: Kven Singing Heritage and Cultural Tourism
13.30 Discussion about possibilities in Cultural Tourism and Cultural Routes
14.00 End of the seminar
Venue: University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Yliopistokatu 2 B, Aurora building, Hall AU101,
Guided Tour
16.00 – 17.30: Museum Eliel
Museum Eliel offers experiences of and insights into the history and present day of North Karelia. The exhibitions at Eliel showcase the region’s diverse voices, breathtakingly beautiful nature and life through the ages.
Venue: Rantakatu 20, 80100 Joensuu
Evening reception and dinner; cultural program
19.00 The City of Joensuu is inviting us to join the event!
Venue: Restaurant Torero, Siltakatu 8, Joensuu
Saturday April 18th:
A visit to a local handicraft and bakery shop
In the morning
Venue: Taitokortteli Arts and Crafts Centre, Koskikatu 1, Joensuu
For more info and participation:
Mr. Pekka Huttu-Hiltunen +358 40 179 8600
Mr. Rune Bjerkli +47 901 444 67
Email: [email protected]
Suggested accommodation:
Hotel Lietsu (or any other hotel in Joensuu)
Welcome to Joensuu! Tervetuloa Joensuuhun!
Aurora Building Joensuu UEF