KUOROKONSERTTI / CHOIR CONCERT

PIEDMONT EAST BAY CHILDREN'S CHOIR

Ensemble is PEBCC’s international performing group, representing the Choir in international competitions and festivals, and upholding PEBCC’s reputation as an exemplary children’s choir. Conducted by Eric Tuan, the group consists of treble voices who demonstrate superior musical proficiency and are at or under the age of 16. The group performs as many as twenty or more times per season, including performances with local symphonies and other arts organizations. Ensemble has premiered dozens of new works, has worked with many composers, and takes pride and delight in the generative process of new music. Ensemble ends each season with a two-week international summer tour, in recent years, they have been to Costa Rica and the UK. Ensemble from PEBCC has earned grand prizes, first prizes and gold medals at prestigious competitions across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

TAPIOLA CHOIR

Tapiola Choir is a world-renowned and award-winning children’s choir from Espoo, Finland. Since its foundation, Tapiola Choir has evolved from a regular school choir into one of the world’s best-known children’s and youth choirs. Tapiola Choir is famous for its distinctive Tapiola Sound, appraised by many critics internationally.

Professor Erkki Pohjola founded the choir in 1963. His work was continued by Mr Kari Ala Pöllänen from 1994 to 2008. Since 2008, the artistic director has been M.Mus. Pasi Hyökki, himself an alumnus of the choir.

Currently Tapiola Choir consists of approximately 40 young musicians between the ages of 9 and 21. In addition to singing, each chorister also plays an instrument. Among professional level musicianship, the choir is well-known for combining music and movement in its performances.

Tapiola Choir’s repertoire is extremely diverse – from jazz concerts to contemporary and classical art music, and from folk music to sacred music. An important part of Tapiola Choir’s artistic mission is co-operation with contemporary composers. Several Finnish and foreign composers have composed and dedicated pieces to Tapiola Choir.

Tapiola Choir performs actively in Finland and abroad. The annual Christmas concerts have been a tradition since the 1960s. The choir has made dozens of recordings and won several distinguished choral competitions and awards, such as the Silver Rose Bowl, main prize of the BBC Let the Peoples Sing choir competition (1971), and the UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of the Arts (1996). Over the years, Tapiola Choir has made over 80 international concert tours all around the world.