Sommar Sibelius

During their lied career of four years, singer Lotta Peltola and pianist Antti Kujari have performed regularly in their own concerts as well as a part of various concert programmes, e.g. with vocal group Vala. In 2024 they took part in the Helsinki Lied Competition. The duo’s teachers in Turku Arts Academy and Turku Conservatory include Eveliin Kytömäki, Pasi Helin and Niina Ranta. They have also taken part in Master Courses organised by Suomen Lied-akatemia with teachers such as Soile Isokoski, Ilkka Paananen, Ulla Raiskio and Gustav Djupsjöbacka. The duo has received praise especially for their varied and unique programme as well as balanced interpretation seemingly coming from a shared musical mind.

Programme:

Jean Sibelius:

Näcken, op. 57, nr. 8
Im Feld ein Mädchen singt, op. 50, nr. 3
Rosenlied, op. 50, nr. 6
Lasse liten, op. 37, nr. 2
Fågellek, op. 17, nr. 3
Och finns det en tanke, op. 86, nr. 4

Lotta Peltola (b. 2002) is singer from Turku, most comfortable in alto and mezzo-soprano programme. A musician trained in Turku Conservatory, she currently studies music pedagogy in Turku Arts Academy. Her song teachers include Marika Kivinen, Kaisu Helminen and Pia Pajala. She has also been taught by Kai Valtonen, Soile Isokoski and Petteri Salomaa in Master Courses and in private lessons. In addition to active lied performances, Peltola has performed as a cantata soloist and a part of opera choirs and as a care musician.

Antti Kujari (b. 2002) is a pianist and composer from Turku, specialising in Post Romantic programme. He was awarded the First Price in the 2023 Pianoaura Competition and had composition concerts in the spring and autumn of the same year. His compositions include works for orchestra and piano as well as songs. Kujari graduated from Turku Conservatory studying in Kalle Perksalo’s piano class. He now studies in Turku Arts Academy under Jukka Juvonen. He has also been taught by Henri Sigfridsson, Antti Hotti, Tuija Hakkila and Ilkka Paananen. In addition to classical pieces, Kujari also plays jazz and other “light music”.