Finnish Special Events
SPECIAL FINNISH EVENTS
This page highlights Finnish cultural events at the hall.
For rental availability, please visit the page of the room you are interested in, located under the "RENTALS" tab, and check the availability calendar for that space.
Vappu Spring Festival 2024!
Sunday April 28th, 12pm - 3pm
Finnish Heritage Society present the Vappu Spring Festival 2024!
A celebration of Spring!
Food, Raffle, Music, and more!
PERFORMANCE
Poetry by Anita Erola
Vappu story by Richard Hourula
Live music by Vappu Band Heikki Koskinen; e-trumpet & arr. / Rent Romus: alto sax/ Katja Eliot; vocals & ten sax / Eli Knowles piano/drums
MENU
Karjalanpiirakka - A savory Karelian pie filled with rice topped with egg butter
Spring salad with watermelon radish, cucumber, red cabbage, snap peas, avocado and roasted pumpkin seeds with a shallot vinaigrette
Finnish berry cake with fresh whipped cream, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries
FREE event admission including complimentary Coffee & tea
BUFFET TICKETS - $20, Kids under 12 - $15
beer, wine, water, juice $5/$3
Produced by the Finnish Heritage Society’s Cultural Committee
Many thanks to all the volunteers! https://www.finnishhall.org/hall
ALL PROCEEDS HELP THE HALL ADA PROJECT!!!
Make a donation today!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/berkeley-finn-hall-accessibility
Over a hundred years ago, Finns immigrated to the Bay Area. Many came in the great migration of the 1890s to the 1910s. The families wanted a space of their own, where they could speak Finnish, eat food from the Old Country, and celebrate important holidays such as Vappu and Finnish Independence Day. Members of that group built the Finnish Hall on Berkeley’s Chestnut Street, a beautiful and historic building that has been cared for by descendents of these Finnish settlers since its completion in 1932. Now the Hall needs all of us.
People may ask why this is important now, in 2024. Although the Hall functions as a center for Finnish culture only a few times a year, its auditorium, stage, and meeting rooms are active every single day. While people may no longer identify or feel kinship with an ethnic group, people need community, and they find it within religious, dance, arts, and other alliances. The Hall serves LIST AT LEAST SIX DIVERSE GROUPS THAT RENT THE HALL, among many others. These groups are as important to contemporary East Bay residents as the Hall was to Finnish immigrants in decades past.
For years the Board of Trustees wanted to improve access to the Hall. Now we are embarking on a major construction project to add ADA bathrooms and access to both the auditorium and kitchen levels. We need your help.
A fundraising target of $250,000 has been set, and construction will begin this June. Please become a part of this venture that will serve generations to come. The East Bay needs quality spaces where people can find themselves as well as each other, where arts and dance thrive, where community grows through talk and advocacy. Please support what our founders dreamed of: a place they can call home. Once we finish the accessibility project, that home will truly be for everyone.
We are including two attachments: one gives more details about the accessibility project and the other provides more of the Hall’s history.
Sincerely,
The Finnish Heritage Society
Past Events:
The Finnish Heritage Society Presents
Rent Romus & Heikki Koskinen’s Itkuja Suite, Invocations on lament & The Aaron Space Cosmic Orchestra
Friday February 9th at 8pm
The Finnish Heritage Society presents an encore of Grammy Considered Itkuja Suite, invocations on lament a deep and rich exploration of the healing music of Finnish Nordic lament and life affirming elements of jazz. Crafted by Emmy award winning Finnish-American saxophonist Rent Romus and Finnish Jazz Legend and composer Heikki Koskinen, Itkuja will be performed by Romus’ Life’s Blood Ensemble. Also performing will be Elihu Knowles’ Aaron Space Cosmic Orchestra, a multilayered large ensemble project exploring the syntheses of acoustic and electronic as part of the FHS monthly Cultural Performance series at the Berkeley Finnish Hall
Performing Artists:
LIFE’S BLOOD ENSEMBLE: Rent Romus - composition, alto & soprano saxophones, flutes, kantele, bells; Heikki "Mike" Koskinen - composition, tenor recorder, E-trumpet, flutes, kantele; Joshua Marshall - tenor saxophone tenor & soprano saxophones, flute; Erika Oba - flute, piccolo Ann McChesney-Young – accordion; Safa Shokrai - double bass; Eli Knowles - drums, percussion
https://soundcloud.com/rent-romus/excerpts-from-itkuja
THE AARON SPACE COSMIC ORCHESTRA: Eli Knowles – composition, piano; Hayden Dekker – alto saxophone; Rent Romus – c-melody saxophone; Ari Brown – trumpet; Dylan Ransley – guitar; Ryan Higley – drum set; Quinn Girard – bass
https://pjce.bandcamp.com/album/night-0n-earth
The tradition of song through lament has served as a form of community expression spanning millennia, invoking processes of healing in profound ways. The Finnish word itkuja (eet-koo-yaw) literally means crying, but hidden within this translation embodies deeper undercurrents of meaning. Itkuja surpasses the biopic Western acceptance of polar opposites drawing a more all-encompassing world view of the definition of existence, loss, and change.
Storytelling has a profound effect on Romus’ musical endeavors. The first of many experimental musical theatrical presentations began in the late 1990s, creating a series of works inspired by Edgar Allen Poe, Philip K Dick, and Frank Herbert. After reading multiple versions of the Finnish National Epic, the Kalevala, he discovered that music based on interpretations of his cultural heritage could serve as a path towards a deeper understanding.
The Aaron Space Cosmic Orchestra is a large jazz ensemble led by Berkeley, California-based producer/composer/multi-instrumentalist Eli Knowles. Born in Brooklyn, NY but primarily raised in Berkeley, California, Knowles is also the bandleader and lead vocalist for one of the most creative and energetic bands on the Bay Area scene, Aaron Space & His Terrestrial Underlings. The Aaron Space Cosmic Orchestra was created in Portland during his time at Reed College and became during this time an outlet for Knowles' more explicitly jazz-oriented ideas. They will perform music from his debut release “Night 0n Earth as well as new originals.
Profits from this concert will benefit the Berkeley Finnish Hall 2024 ADA Project.
http://www.finnishhall.org/access
Finnish Heritage Society & Finlandia Foundation Bay Area Present:
Finnish Independence Celebration Bay Area December 3rd, 2023 12pm - 4pm
Come join the Finnish American Community in celebrating 106 years of Independence of Finland!
* CHRISTMAS MARKET! (Finnish Imports)
* MUSIC FROM Ida Metsberg, Finlandia Foundation Performer of the Year 2023
* KEYNOTE SPEAKER Thomas J. Flanagan / Executive Director
of Finlandia Foundation National
* Music Performance from
Heikki Koskinen / Rent Romus / Heidi Saario / Jari Suomalainen
* MENU – Donations appreciated
Dark pumpernickel type bread, with an herbal cream cheese spread (chives & dill), cheese (cheddar & havarti), cucumber, parsley & some with creamed smoked roe (Kallen kaviaari) & some for vegetarians, Herbal potato salad / Pulla (Finnish Sweet Coffee bread), Pound cake, Gingerbread cookies (Piparkakku), Coffee, tea, Martinelli, juice in containers for kids
FREE ADMISSION
Donations welcome in helping us upgrade the hall for ADA improvements!
*** gofundme.com/f/berkeley-finn-hall-accessibility ***
Finlandia Foundation National is a non-profit organizationthe and the leading independent source of support for Finnish culture in the United States. FNN celebrates the 70th anniversary of it’s founding in 1953.
Special Thanks to Finnish Heritage Society’s Cultural Committee & Finlandia Foundation SF Bay Area
Ida Metsberg
Finland is known for being one of the happiest places in the world and a place of clean, pure, natural beauty. It's no surprise that Ida Metsberg, native to the land, brings deep, meaningful, vibrant, and nourishing energy through her songs. Now calling New York her home, the singer/songwriter has been bringing her light and unique perspective to the city streets and leaving people with a memorable, and lasting impression.
With nods to artists like Sarah Bareilles and Anna Nalick, Ida blends Pop and Folk with intelligent, thoughtful structure and lyrics. Even songs that are more solemn and serious in tone leave you feeling hopeful and introspective. Her craft is her therapy and expression of her deepest self. Ida writes for her own healing and at times to speak her piece to people that have hurt her. This style of genuine rawness and passion resonates with anyone who has loved, lost, and can still celebrate life and look inside, honestly.
Ida is notable for playing shows across New York City and with her theater background, her show is a must-watch. She can be found on all streaming platforms and is set to release new singles throughout 2022 into 2023
idaofficial.com
Thomas (Tommy) Flanagan
was appointed executive director of Finlandia Foundation National in February 2023. He was born and raised in rural south central Montana and is a Finnish American. He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, with a BA in Political Science and German and minor in Global Studies in 2014. During his studies, he had the opportunity to take courses in political science, German, Finnish and Swedish at Åbo Akademi University as an international student. After graduation, Tommy spent a year through Fulbright as an English teaching assistant in northern Germany. He earned his MA in German and European Studies at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service in 2019. Most recently, he worked as a Language Programs Officer at the Goethe-Institut in Washington, D.C. Tommy is a founding member of the FFN Young Leaders
Finnish Heritage Society Presents: A Finnish Concert for the Whole Family
Sunday October 22nd at 3pm
The Finnish Heritage Society presents an afternoon of Finnish family music with performed by Selma Seppänen and Miska Kajanus as part of the monthly Cultural Performance Series at the Berkeley Finnish Hall.
Program:
In the first part of the show, they'll entertain the kids with some catchy Finnish children's music. Then, they'll switch it up in the second part and play classic Finnish evergreens that everyone enjoys. What makes this show unique is their ability to improvise and keep things spontaneous.
Selma Seppänen:
Selma, with a multifaceted skill set - a true artist who can play the violin and piano, sing with a beautiful voice, and lead choirs with precision and passion. With a Master of Music degree from the Sibelius Academy, Selma has performed on concert tours worldwide, captivating audiences with her stunning performances. Currently based in Orange County, California, she brings her unique perspective and Finnish heritage to the local music scene.
Miska Kajanus:
Miska is a Finnish-American musician, actor and comedian living in Los Angeles. As an actor he can be seen in Modern Family, Hulu's Dollface, and the Netflix Original Series Bordertown.
*The event is family-friendly and suitable for all ages.
Tickets: $20 General $15 Student/Senior RSVP at: Eventbrite
Children under 12 FREE
SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2023 AT 8 PM – 10 PM and SUNDAY, MAY 28, 2023 AT 4 PM – 6 PM
Finnish Heritage Society & Outsound Presents Itkuja Suite, invocations on lament
The Finnish Heritage Society & Outsound co-present Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble performing the complete Itkuja Suite, invocations on lament, a deep and rich exploration of the healing music of Finnish Nordic lament and life affirming elements of jazz.
Crafted by Finnish-American Rent Romus award winning Finnish composer Heikki Koskinen, this full suite will be performed by the Life’s Blood Ensemble as part of the FHS monthly Cultural Performance series at the Berkeley Finnish Hall on Chestnut Street. This full weekend of performances celebrate the release of the full album from Bay area label Edgetone Records.
Performing Artists:
Rent Romus - composition, alto & soprano saxophones, flutes, kantele, bells; Heikki "Mike" Koskinen - composition, tenor recorder, E-trumpet, flutes, kantele; Joshua Marshall - tenor saxophone tenor & soprano saxophones, flute; Erika Oba - flute, piccolo Ann McChesney-Young – accordion; Mark Clifford – vibraphone; ; Safa Shokrai - double bass; Cory Combs - double bass; Max Judelson - cello; Eli Knowles - drums, percussion
About Itkuja Suite: The tradition of song through lament has served as a form of community expression spanning millennia, invoking processes of healing in profound ways. The Finnish word itkuja (eet-koo-yaw) literally means crying, but hidden within this translation embodies deeper undercurrents of meaning. Itkuja surpasses the biopic Western acceptance of polar opposites (i.e. happy/sad, good/bad), drawing a more all-encompassing world view of the definition of existence, loss, and change.
Storytelling has a profound effect on Romus’ musical endeavors. The first of many experimental musical theatrical presentations began in the late 1990s, creating a series of works inspired by Edgar Allen Poe, Philip K Dick, and Frank Herbert. After reading multiple versions of the Finnish National Epic, the Kalevala, he discovered that music based on interpretations of his cultural heritage could serve as a path towards a deeper understanding. While on tour with fellow composer.musician Heikki Kosinen in 2019, he visited the Cultural Center in Joensuu Finland to see the lament exhibit. This experience sparked discussions and further research blossoming new musical ideas based on this oral-tradition.
This project completes the Otherworld Trilogy which includes the 2015 release of the Otheworld Cycle and the 2020 release of Manala on Edgetone Records.
Saturday Show: Doors at 7:30 pm Performance at 8:00 pm
Tickets at the door and in advance at Eventbrite:
$20 General, $15 Student/Senior (use FHS10 for a 10% discount)
Sunday Show: Doors at 3:30 pm Performance at 4:00 pm
Tickets at the door and in advance at Eventbrite:
$20 General, $15 Student/Senior (use FHS10 for a 10% discount)
Finnish Vappu Celebration!
Sunday April 30th, 2-5pm at the Finnish Hall
Finnish Heritage Society presents and Finlandia Foundation Bay Area present the Vappu Spring Festival 2023!
A celebration of Finnish Vappu featuring imports from Finland at the Vappu Market!
Performances by
Henri Aalto (Finland) Guitar Artist & Electric Troubadour solo set
https://www.henriaalto.com/
Vappu story & poem by Anita Erola “I Lost my Ö” / “Freesias”
Vappu story by Richard Hourula “Vappu, Plenty for Finns to Celebrate”
Live music by Vappu Band Heikki Koskinen; e-trumpet & arr. / Rent Romus: alto sax/ Katja Eliot; vocals & ten sax / Jari Suomalainen; violin/Heidi Saario; piano
MENU
Karjalanpiirakka - A savory Karelian pie filled with rice topped with egg butter
Spring salad with watermelon radish, cucumber, red cabbage, snap peas, avocado and roasted pumpkin seeds with a shallot vinaigrette
Finnish berry cake with fresh whipped cream, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries
beer, wine, water, juice $5/$3
FREE event admission including complimentary Coffee & tea
BUFFET TICKETS - $20, Kids under 12 - $15
https://www.eventbrite.com/.../fhs-ff-bay-area-present...
Produced by the Finnish Heritage Society’s Cultural Committee and Finlandia Foundation’s Bay Area Chapter.
Many thanks to all the volunteers!
Cover image art by Diane Rusnak
https://dianerusnakart.com/
Sunday February 5th, 2023 3PM:
Finnish Heritage Society presents: an afternoon concert LAULUNI SOI "LET SONGS RING" with pianist Heidi Saario and tenor Erich Buchholz featuring music by Grieg, Madetoja, Merikanto , Sibelius, and Kilpinenas part of the monthly Cultural Performance Series
PROGRAM Music by Grieg, Madetoja, Merikanto , Sibelius, and Kilpinen
About the Musicians:
Heidi Saario is a native of Finland and has played the piano since the age of 4. She has performed as a soloist and a collaborative pianist in Finland, Canada, and the USA. Heidi enjoys promoting Finnish and Scandinavian composers and bringing this repertoire to new audiences. Since moving to North America 20 years ago, she has had many opportunities to perform at various North American Finnish cultural festivals. Heidi has produced two recordings: Jean Sibelius – Compositions for Piano and Diamonds of the North – Songs from Scandinavia with soprano Cindy Koistinen. She holds a M.Mus in Performance and Pedagogy from the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Canada. Aside from performance, Heidi maintains a busy teaching studio in Alameda. For more information visit www.heidisaario.com.
CDs available for purchase at the event.
TICKETS - $15 General, $10 Student/Senior
Finnish Independence Celebration!
Come Celebrate One Hundred and Five years of Finnish independence!*
Sunday, December 5, 2022 hosted by:
Finnish Heritage Society & Finlandia Foundation Bay Area
**Tickets and More info TBD
FINNISH INDEPENDENCE DAY 2022 on Sunday, Dec 4, 2022
Holiday Market 12-4 pm
FHS Independence Day program 1:30 – 2:30 pm
Free event, festive coffee, tea, beverages, pulla & cake served after
Speakers: Signe Mattson & Richard Hourula - focusing on Berkeley Finnish community & FinnTown history from personal viewpoints
- Opening & Closing music / Heidi Saario, Heikki Koskinen, Rent Romus, Erich Buchholz
- Featured music program by Heidi Saario (piano) & Erich Buchholz (vocal)
* Illalla (In the Evening) / Yrjö Kilpinen
* Luulit, mä katselin sua (You Tought I Was Watching You) / Leevi Madetoja
* Illalle (To Evening) / Jean Sibelius
* Kun päivä paistaa (When the Sun Shines) / Oskar Merikanto
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022 AT 4 PM
Kalevala & Kabbalah
(Music inspired by culture, ritual, and celebration)
Finnish Heritage Society presents music inspired by jazz, improvisation, Finnish and Jewish cultural expressions as part of the monthly Cultural Performance series at the Berkeley Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut St (University Ave).
Doors at 3:30 pm Matinee at 4:00 pm
4:00 pm Jordan Glenn, percussion, David Israel Katz - voice
David Israel Katz is the founder of the foreignfire a performance ensemble that creates aesthetically powerful events in the overlapping area of performance art and Jewish ritual.
Jordan Glenn is a drummer, percussionist, improviser, composer, conductor, and bandleader. He runs a wide swath of groups in the SF Bay Area and has recorded as a leader and sideman on almost sixty albums.
They have crossed paths numerous times in the bay area's fertile improv scene. Most notably, they have contributed to Brett Carson's opera Just Visiting (X-Ray Vision) and Lisa Mezzacappa's audio podcast opera The Electronic Lover. This is their outing in a duo format.
http://www.jordanglennmusic.com
https://www.foreignfire.com
5:00 pm Heikki Koskinen Quartet
Rent Romus - alto saxophone, flutes
Safa Shokrai - double bass
Eli Knowles - drums, piano
Heikki Koskinen - e-trumpet, tenor recorder, piano
Heikki Koskinen is an international acclaimed musician, composer, and educator born in Turku, Finland. He left his native Finland to study jazz at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1973, and later moved to San Francisco in 1977. He is a key musical figure in the Bay Area and Finnish music communities having worked with Hadley Caliman, Steve Heckman, Mark Levine, Joe Bonner, Teppo Hauta-aho, Edward Vesala, and Seppo "Paroni" Paakkunainen and many others. In 2019 he was awarded jazz legend status in by the Finnish Music Archive. They perform music celebrating birthday's, weddings, jazz, and traditional Finnish music.
Coffee and Muffins!
Link: Advance Tickets at Eventbrite
(enter FHS10 for a 10% discount)
The Finnish Heritage Society presents an afternoon of original poetry and music as part of the monthly Cultural Performance Series!
Sunday August 28th 3:00 - 5:00PM
PROGRAM:
Poetry and music with: Johanna Rauhala, Carl Macki, Richard Hourula, Terri Shull, Anita Erola, Signe Mattson, Heikki Koskinen, & Rent Romus!
A reception with coffee and cookies following the performance.
*Seating is limited to accommodate social distancing. Masks welcome indoors.
Vaccination and booster shots highly recommended. If you feel ill, please do not attend.
About the Performers:
Anita Erola is from Lahti, Finland, and has lived in the Bay Area since age 10. She has always loved words, and that love became quite interesting when she had to learn a whole set of new ones at a young age. Her writing has appeared in numerous anthologies, and both her writing and photography have won awards. She is looking forward to the end of the pandemic, sharing her written word at open mic events again, and traveling, especially to Finland when the days are long, and the lake water is warm.
Richard Hourula is a native of Berkeley born to Finnish parents. He has been a teacher for thirty-five years. He is also an active blogger and writer. One of his blogs covers a variety of topics, including films, mental health, current events and humor. His other blog features his poetry. Richard has self-published two novels, the second of which, Threat of Night (Yön Uhka) is set in Berkeley’s Finnish-American community on the eve of U.S. entry into World War II.
Heikki Koskinen has been a key musical figure in the Bay Area jazz and Finnish music communities. Chosen in "Rytmi" magazine critics polls as Finland's top jazz trumpet player in the 1970's. He left his native Finland to study jazz at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1973. He later moved to San Francisco in 1977. Koskinen is the recipient of several Finnish composing grants, recorded several albums, and won awards as an innovative children's music teacher. In September 2019 Heikki received Finnish Music Archive’s “Jazz Legend #34” Award.
Carl Macki Lives in the Shoreline neighborhood next to Tennessee Valley and Tamalpais Junction in Marin County. Born in Chicago and lived there and in the north woods of Minnesota the first part of my life. Graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. Formerly active in the Marin Poetry Center and poetry series at Copperfield’s Books in Petaluma. Currently web designer with the Petaluma Poetry Walk.
Signe Mattson was born 1939 to mother from Narpio and father whose parents came from there. Graduate of UC Berkeley. Taught English two years in Nigeria and 28 in Berkeley. Have written journals for about 60 years, turning some recent bits into poetry.
Johanna Rauhala was a peer coach and middle school teacher until a disability forced her into early retirement. She’s been published by the National Education Association, the George Lucas Education Foundation, Mothers Always Write magazine, Alternating Currents Magazine, and was a finalist in the now defunct Kippis Magazine’s poetry contest. She has an M. A. in English from San Francisco State University and participates in a writing group with poet Thomas Centolella.
Rent Romus is a saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, music producer, and community activist.He leads the Lords of Outland a free improvisation unit, the Life’s Blood Ensemble a composition based contemporary group, and the Otherworld Ensemble a Finnish/American collective exploring new perspectives in heritage and traditional folk. He has recorded over 50 albums exploring a wide variety of musical settings which have included beat poet founder ruth weiss, and creative music pioneers Chico Freeman, John Tchicai, and Vinny Golia, Teppo Hauta-aho, and Heikki Koskinen.
Terri Shull is a published poet and fiction writer, a dog-sitter, craftier and a retired Speech Therapist. She is a fan of: Rilke, Sexton and Bukowski. She and her husband Travis live in Santa Rosa with their two rescue dogs, Lovey, a Tibetan Spaniel mix, and Dolly, a Maltese-Toy Poodle mix.
Tickets: $15 General $10 Student/Senior RSVP at Eventbrite
Finlandia Foundation Bay Area Presents: Eeppi Ursin in Concert at the Berkeley Finnish Hall
Concert at the Berkeley Finnish Hall on September 17th at 7pm
New York based Finnish singer-songwriter Eeppi Ursin is chosen as Performer of the Year 2022 by Finlandia Foundation National. Ursin is a platinum-selling, award-winning singer, composer and pianist with a versatile career. Her fourth studio album Speechless, released in February 2022, is a luscious combination of pop, soul and singer-songwriter traditions with empowering vocals.
"Killer voice, amazing piano and wonderful lyrics"
- The New York Songwriters Circle
www.eeppiursin.com
www.finlandiafoundation.org
Tickets $35, children under 16 free.
finlandiasf.org/event/eeppi-ursin-performer-of-the-year-san-francisco-ca
Finnish Heritage Society Presents Music Meets Art with Heidi Saario SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 AT 1:30 PM
The Finnish Heritage Society presents an afternoon of Finnish solo piano music performed by pianist Heidi Saario as part of the monthly Cultural Performance Series at the Berkeley Finnish Hall 1970 Chestnut St (University Ave). This performance offers a unique experience of Finnish piano music combined with a series of artwork created by Finnish artists during the period of National Romanticism.
Program:
Music by Jean Sibelius, Selim Palmgren, and Leevi Madetoja.
A reception with coffee and cake following the performance.
Proof of vaccination and masks are required.
About the Musician:
Heidi Saario is a native of Finland and has played the piano since the age of 4. She has performed as a soloist and a collaborative pianist in Finland, Canada, and the USA. Heidi enjoys promoting Finnish and Scandinavian composers and bringing this repertoire to new audiences. Since moving to North America 20 years ago, she has had many opportunities to perform at various North American Finnish cultural festivals. Heidi has produced two recordings: Jean Sibelius – Compositions for Piano and Diamonds of the North – Songs from Scandinavia with soprano Cindy Koistinen. She holds a M.Mus in Performance and Pedagogy from the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Canada. Aside from performance, Heidi maintains a busy teaching studio in Alameda. For more information visit www.heidisaario.com.
CDs available for purchase at the event.
Tickets: $15 General $10 Student/Senior RSVP at Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/finnish-heritage-society-presents-music-meets-art-with-heidi-saario-tickets-345095067637
The Vappu Spring Festival 2022!
Sunday May 1st, 2pm - 5pm
Finnish Heritage Society presents and Finlandia Foundation Bay Area present the Vappu Spring Festival 2022! A celebration of Finnish Vappu featuring Vappu Market
Seating is limited to accommodate social distancing. Masks and proof of vaccination are required to attend in person.
Poetry by Anita Erola. Music featuring Heikki Koskinen – e-trumpet & arrangements / Katja Eliot – vocals & tenor sax / Heidi Saario – piano / Richard Saunders – bass
FREE event admission
BUFFET TICKETS - $40, Kids under 12 - $15
Please reserve your meal in advance at Eventbrite! www.eventbrite.com/e/fhs-ff-bay-area-present-vappu-spring-festival-2022-tickets-322957302987
*Seating is limited to accommodate social distancing. Masks and proof of vaccination are required to attend in person.
PROGRAM
Finlandia Foundation’s “Vappu Market” Finnish imported bread, candy, and other goods
Live music by Vappu Band (Heikki Koskinen; e-trumpet & arr./ Katja Eliot; vocals & ten sax / Heidi Saario; piano / Richard Saunders – bass)
DJ: Kat Eliot
Poems by Anita Erola (with slide shows): Ode to Finland (The Finland Maiden / Paintings: Ethel Laine) / Happiness For a Laugh
*SF Suomi Koulu Children’s Vappu Greeting Video (Aliisa Lampinen)
MENU
Smoked salmon open faced sandwiches on rye bread
Vegetarian open faced sandwiches on rye bread with cream cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, picked red onions, arugula, lemon zest and maldon sea salt
Herbed potato salad with a Dijon vinaigrette, fresh parsley, chives and dill
Spring salad with watermelon radish, cucumber, red cabbage, snap peas, avocado and roasted pumpkin seeds with a shallot vinaigrette
Finnish berry cake with fresh whipped cream, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries
Coffee, tea, water, juice, beer, wine
Finnish Heritage Society Presents Richard Hourula
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 AT 2 PM
Finnish Heritage Society presents an authors book reading ‘Threat of Night / Yön uhka’ with Richard Hourula as part of the monthly Cultural Performance series at the Berkeley Finnish Halls’ Helsinki Cafe, 1970 Chestnut St (University Ave). Proof of vaccination and masks are required.
About the Author:
Richard Hourula is a native of Berkeley, California, born to Finnish parents. His first career was as a journalist, and he later taught history in public schools then ESL to adults.
To date, he has written two novels and is currently working on a third. In addition, Richard maintains a blog about films, teaching, politics, mental health, substance abuse issues, and fiction and humor pieces. He is happily married and has two daughters.
About the Book ‘Threat of Night / Yön uhka’:
It’s 1941, and a young reporter named Matti Kurki discovers a Nazi spy ring operating in and around his hometown of Berkeley, California. Events are set into motion when his best friend, a physicist who works with Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, is sent to a mental institution and subsequently escapes. Matt receives strange visitors and mysterious phone calls. These are followed by a murder, a suicide, threats to Matt and confrontations with double agents, hired thugs and dangerous Nazis bent on sabotage. Matt is called on to be brave and resourceful as he puts his life in danger to pursue the biggest story he’s ever written. Supporting Matt are his Finnish-born parents, extended family and friends, and Martta, his Finnish-American girlfriend. A war raging in Europe and calls for isolationism by the likes of Charles Lindbergh form the backdrop to this story of intrigue.
Tickets: FREE ADMISSION RSVP at Eventbrite: Eventbrite Registration
Finnish Independence Celebration!Register Here
Come celebrate one hundred and four years of Finnish independence!*
Sunday, December 5, 2021 hosted by:
Finnish Heritage Society & Finlandia Foundation Bay Area
Tickets · Free - $30
www.eventbrite.com/e/fhs-ff-bay-area-present-finnish-independence-celebration-tickets-215943521887
Come celebrate one hundred and four years of Finnish independence!*
Sunday, December 5, 2021 hosted by:
Finnish Heritage Society & Finlandia Foundation Bay Area
Featured speakers:
Welcome greeting by Fred Mork, President Finnish Heritage Society
Mårten Mickoss, Honorary Consul of Finland, poetry by Anita Erola
Music featuring works by Jean Sibelius, Fredrik Pacius, John Stafford Smith:
Heikki Koskinen (e-tpt, piano)
Rent Romus (alto sax)
Heidi Saario (piano)
Jari Suomalainen (violin)
PROGRAM
12:00 pm Annual Christmas Market
hosted by Finlandia Foundation Bay Area
1:30 pm Independence Program:
- Procession
- Greeting
- Music
- Poetry
- Mårten Mickos (Overcoming Divisions - Lessons learned from Finnish History for here and now)
2:15 pm Light Buffet
About the Featured Guest Speaker:
Honorary Consul for Finland, Mårten Mickos is a native of Finland who six years ago became CEO of HackerOne, the world's leading vendor of hacker-powered security.
Mårten moved to California in 2003, where he found a culture very different than what he knew in Finland. "I had been dreaming about Silicon Valley since the late '80s; to me this was paradise. I joke and say that I thought Silicon Valley would be the promised land. It's even more than that---it's the overpromised land. If you don't learn to exaggerate, you're lost."
MENU
- Salmon Soup // Lohi keitto
Salmon, leeks, potatoes, carrots and dill in a creamy, non-dairy fish broth
- Mixed green Fall salad
Mixed greens, roasted delicata squash, radishes, pumpkin seeds, avocado and red onion with a Dijon vinaigrette.
- Finnish Berry Cake// Marjakakku
Light, fluffy white cake with fresh blueberries, raspberries and strawberries with freshly whipped cream
- Assorted breads and butter
- Coffee, tea, water, juice
*Seating is limited to accommodate social distancing. Masks and proof of vaccination are required to attend in person.
To attend via Live Stream: https://youtu.be/Q0gJMzoTNQo
Free Event Admission
Buffet: $30 per person
RSVP @ eventbrite link
Finnish Heritage Society Monthly Concert Series Presents:
Koskinen/Romus' Manala
(CD release concert)
Sunday October 24th, 2021
Doors Open at 7:15 pm Concert begins at 8:00 pm
The Finnish Heritage Society presents their first concert as part of their new monthly cultural performance series.
"...strikingly vivid, deeply textured music that evokes stark landscapes and heroic deeds...the music seems to emerge right out of the Finnish soil." - Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Classical Voice
Manala is the metaphysical realm of the Finnish underworld. It is both a metaphor and reflection of a world view and cosmic order that inspires an inherent feeling of mystery throughout the texts of this tradition.
Heikki Koskinen and Rent Romus celebrate modern Finnish American cultural expression with this joint musical project built upon a thematic framework featuring all original compositions. Manala uses elements of Finnish pentameter rhythmic folk music intertwined with melodic themes as well as graphic and improvisational components expressed in American Jazz.
Featured Performers:
Rent Romus - alto & soprano saxophones, flutes, kantele, bells
Heikki "Mike" Koskinen - e-trumpet, tenor recorder, kantele
Joshua Marshall - tenor & soprano saxophones, flute
Tom Weeks - baritone & alto saxophones
David Samas - voice, han, prepared frame drum, song stones, cocoa pod, bells, waterphone, animal calls, Aztec death whistle, water
Cheryl E. Leonard - Spiny, Baby Driftwood Pipe Organ
Limpet Shell Spine, bowl of sand, stone slabs, clam shells mussel shells, mobiles: (driftwood, obsidian needles, petrified wood, crab claws, shells) feathers, fish vertebrae, Japanese bowl gongs
Mark Clifford - vibraphone
Safa Shokrai - double bass
Cory Combs - double bass
Max Judelson - double bass/cello
Timothy Orr - drums, percussion
https://edgetonerecords.bandcamp.com/album/manala
Seating is limited to accommodate social distancing. Masks and proof of vaccination are required to attend in person. A streaming link for those who wish to attend remotely will be available TBA.
Tickets: $20 general, $15 senior
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/finnish-heritage-society-presents-koskinenromus-manala-cd-release-tickets-169935133559
Live stream Event Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdl8zZP472lo4tKM4P6dmeQ
**This is part of a New Monthly Concert Series put on by the Finnish Heritage Society. Stay tuned for the next concert Sunday November 14th!
Finnish Heritage Society presents
VIRTUAL VAPPU 2021
PROGRAM
Vappu welcome greeting with Vappu Festival Producer Heikki Koskinen
Music / Kevätsointuja (J.P. Hannikainen)
Heikki Koskinen, Jari Suomalainen, Rent Romus, Katja Eliot
Music / Leivo (Erkki Melartin)
Jari Suomalainen & Heidi Saario
Poem by Anita Erola: Ode to Finland (The Finland Maiden)
(Paintings: Ethel Laine)
Music / Kevätyö (May Night) Op. 27, No. 4 (Selim Palmgren)
Heidi Saario, paintings by Anu Valtanen
Vappu greeting from Finlandia Foundation’s Bay Area Chapter
Hanna Peltonen / Elina Fahlgren
Music / Keltainen toukokuu
Vocal: Katja Eliot, arr. Heikki Koskinen
Vappu story from Turku: ”Vappusi sato sahanpuru” (Raimo Vahtera)
Narrated: by Helena Zorndorf, Video: Aaron Zornforf
Translation: Helena Zorndorf, Anne Christine Pajunen, Juliana Cheplick
Music / ”Battle of the Bands” - Kenen joukoissa seisot / Marsalkan hopeatorvet
Heikki Koskinen, Jari Suomalainen, Rent Romus, Katja Eliot
Vappumunkit – making vappu treats with Sirpa & kids
Poem by Anita Erola: Happiness For A Laugh
(Paintings: Ethel Laine)
Music / Aamulaulu (Toivo Kuula)
Jari Suomalainen & Heidi Saario
Music & Credits / Ikuinen vappu
Heikki Koskinen, Rent Romus, Katja Eliot
Musicians: Heikki Koskinen, Heidi Saario, Jari Suomalainen, Katja Eliot, Rent Romus
Poetry reading: Anita Erola
Vappu story reading: Helena Zorndorf
Cooking vappu treats: Sirpa Tuomainen & family
Vappu greeting: Hanna Peltonen & Elina Fahlgren (FF Bay Area)
Background paintings: Anu Valtanen & Ethel Laine (Anita’s mom)
Production:
Produced by the Finnish Heritage Society Cultural Committee
FinnART 2019 - Finns & Friends
Arts and Crafts at the Berkeley Finnish Hall
1970 Chestnut Street
at University Avenue
Berkeley, CA
10/5 and 10/6
from 11 AM until 6 PM
Free admission!
On Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6, 2019, eleven local artists and makers will gather to show and sell their products in the beautiful historic auditorium at the Finnish Kaleva Hall. These participants have a wide range of expertise and products of their own making to offer. We have painters and sculptors and jewelry makers and photographers. We have artists and artisans offering their own finely crafted healing salves and potions. We have dream catchers and handcrafted elves and fused glass items and ceramics and more. We have original art and handmade as well as printed cards and scarves of all kinds. We have bags and mugs and so much more. There will be a fascinating variety of arts and crafts to admire and purchase. There will be a multitude of styles and media to view. Do come and join us for this promising to be an amazing event sponsored by Berkeley Finnish Heritage Society!
Participating Artists and Makers in Alphabetical Order:
IIda Bergstrom, Ceramics
Charlotta Maria Hauksdottir, Photography/Sculpture, www.charlottamh.com
Leena Iso-Ahola, Painted Silk Scarves and Watercolors
Nilly Keren-Paz, Fused Glass
Manzanita Knight, Dream Catchers, Teas, Herbal Products, Jewelry, Photography
Lori Pino, Painting: Acrylics and Blood on Masonite, Herbal Medicines
Christine Rossi, Oil and Acrylic Painting on Canvas or Wood, https://christinerossiart.com/
Diane Rusnak, Acrylic Painting, Sculpture, Cards, http://dianerusnakart.com
Tiina Purtonen, Jewelry, Fabric and Felt Crafts
Helena Tiainen, Painting, Drawing, Digital and Mixed Media Art and Designs Printed on Products and Cards, https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/helena-tiainen.html
Urve Inga Virkkila aka Inga Perry, Drawing and Painting
Finnish Vappu Celebration!
Saturday April 27th 2019
The Finnish Heritage Society welcomes you all to our annual Vappu celebrating the spring and Finnish Culture!
DJ, Silent Auction, Food, Balloons, Poetry, Theater, Live Music
Kids Arts & Crafts activities table.
DJ Kat will spin Finnish music of all styles from pop to folk.
Traditional Finnish music from Heikki Koskinen's Pohjolan Pillit:
w/ Kat Eliot, Rent Romus, Bert Carelli, & Steve Heckman
Poems from the Finnish American perspective!
Free Event Admission
No Host Bar, Light Buffet ($20 General, Kids under 12 Free)
Salads, smoked salmon, cheeses, spreads, pasta, breads, and Finnish berry cakes!
About the Silent Auction:
Our Vappu Silent Auctions have always been wonderfully popular. The highest bidders have left with amazing treasures. Due to the small size of our Finnish community the prices have not reached anywhere near the levels one could expect to pay at Ebay or a popular first class charity or antique store. Our silent auction is a bargain hunter’s dream.
All proceeds from this auction go to our historic Berkeley Finnish Hall. The Hall is in a beautiful shape already, but now we are pushing very hard to be able to make the Hall ADA compliant.
For this year’s silent auction we have already been donated several beautiful Finnish items by Mary Ellen MacMuldren from Riku Ploe-Kaijala’s estate. Carolyn Hunt has also given us many delightful things from Wes Ludeman’s collection.
In case YOU, who are reading this, have some item or items which you would not mind donating to the Berkeley Finnish Hall, and make the highest bidder very happy and appreciative, please contact me, Kirsti Bellows. The items do not have to be Finnish, but they should be in good condition. We do not have space for used clothing or shoes. My email address is kirstikb@yahoo.com, phone 510.527.6160.
About Vappu:
Vappu is celebrated traditionally on 1 May and marks the end of winter. It is also celebrated as International Labor Day in most places in the world and is one of the biggest festivals of the year in Finland alongside Midsummer's Day and Christmas. Vappu was created in the nineteenth century when engineering students would celebrate and party at midnight on 30 April, while sporting their traditional white caps. This custom has now become widespread across Finland, leading to partying in towns and cities.
Sunday December 2nd, 2018 2 - 4PM
Free Event Admission
$25 Afternoon Buffet
Live Music/Guest Speakers/No Host Bar
Featured Speakers:
Anja Miller: Perspectives on the future of our Finnish-American Community
Michel Wendell: Honorary Consul of Finland
Welcome Greeting by Fred Mork
Music featuring works by Toivo Kuula, Fredrik Pacius, & Jean Sibelius:
Heikki Koskinen (e-tpt, piano)
Kati Pienimäki Schenker (vocal, percussion)
Rent Romus (alto, sopr sax, flute)
Kat Elliot (alto, tenor sax)
Jari Suomalainen (violin)
PROGRAM
1:30 pm Kids crafts table
2:00 pm RECEPTION / PROCESSION / ANTHEMS / LIVE MUSIC
2:20 pm Guest Speakers
3:00 pm CATERED BUFFET
MENU
- Salmon sandwich: open faced sandwich on multigrain rye bread, with smoked salmon, sliced cucumber, arugula, cream cheese or herbed butter, and red onion.
- Vegetarian sandwich: roasted beet and yam , herbed goat cheese, cucumber, arugula on focaccia
- Ham sandwich: hickory smoked ham, cheddar cheese, lettuce, picked red onions, mustard, herbed mayonnaise
- Kesäkakku & pulla
Coffee, Tea, soft drinks, beer & wine
Manala
A musical adventure inspired by the mythic prose of cultural liberation and identity found in the ancient runes of Kaleva mythology
Saturday and Sunday May 25-26, 2019
at the Berkeley Finnish Hall
The Finnish Heritage Society presents the East Bay debut of Rent Romus and Heikki Koskinen’s “Manala” (netherworld), a representation of cultural rediscovery through the lens of music weaving the elements of jazz, traditional folk, and free improvisation inspired by the mythic prose of cultural liberation and identity found in the Finnish and Finno-Ugric folklore and shamanic traditions. Awarded grant support from Finlandia Foundation National and Suomi-Seura-ry via the Ministry of Education and Culture Helsinki Finland, this epic presentation will take place at the newly restored historic Berkeley Finnish Hall presented as part of the Finnish Heritage Society’s spring cultural events programming featuring Romus’ Life’s Blood Ensemble.
What is Manala?
Manala or Tuonela is the metaphysical netherworld in the Finnish Kalevala or Jabmeaivo in Sami traditions. It is a place opposite of the land of the living, a destination for the soul after this life, a place of reflection that contains answers to mysteries of the universe for the Noaidde or Noita (shaman) in Fino-Ugric cultures. It can be very dangerous for a living person to journey there, and only the most experienced shaman may successfully emerge from its dark waters richer in knowledge and song for the experience.
Performing Artists of Life’s Blood Ensemble:
Mark Clifford - vibraphone
Gabby Fluke-Mogul - violin
Max Judelson - double bass
Heikki "Mike" Kosikinen - e-trumpet, tenor recorder, kantele
Cheryl E. Leonard - natural inventions, percussion, cello
Joshua Marshall - tenor & soprano saxophones
Timothy Orr- drums, percussion
Rent Romus - alto & soprano saxophone, flutes, kantele, bells
Safa Shokrai - double bass
