Ahjo Ensemble
Biography Ahjo Ensemble
Ahjo Ensemble
Ahjo Ensemble is a Helsinki-based chamber choir. Founded in 2013, the mission of the choir is to perform versatile choir repertoire of the highest artistic level while enlivening the choral culture with its diverse, surprising and skilful approach. The singers of the ensemble are long-time choir enthusiasts, united by the love of music and desire to offer memorable experiences for various audiences. During its first years, Ahjo Ensemble focused especially on performing contemporary Finnish choir music and working in several cross-genre productions, which continue to form a major part of Ahjo Ensemble’s choral activities as of today.
Together with the choir’s current conductor, Master of Music Julia Lainema, Ahjo Ensemble has lately dedicated considerable time and effort in discovering works of forgotten female choral composers, both Finnish and international, from the 19th century to this day. In addition to performing this lesser-known repertoire in its concerts, the mission to make the choral scene more inclusive continues to be at the top of Ahjo’s agenda. Moreover, the choir works actively with contemporary composers and gives first public performances of new works on a regular basis.
Ahjo Ensemble has performed in several Finnish classical music festivals, cooperating with orchestras such as Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and UMO Jazz Orchestra and recording for the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. The choir has also performed with the Finnish pop producer Pykäri in several productions. In 2016, Ahjo Ensemble was chosen as finalist at the International Harald Andérsen Chamber Choir Competition, and part of the choir’s competition programme was broadcasted by BBC Radio 3 later that year.
Julia Lainema
graduated from the Sibelius Academy's choral conducting program with a master’s degree in music in summer 2022. Before that, she graduated from the same university’s music education subject group with a master's degree.
Julia is particularly interested in developing the choir's sound and intonation, communicating with the singers and strengthening the singers' own artistry. Her passion is open-minded repertoire design, and creation of such concert experiences that would be interesting for both singers and listeners.
In addition to the Ahjo Ensemble, Julia also works as creative director of Kaari Ensemble, Lempikuoro and Näsi chamber choir. She makes adaptations and composes choir music, as well as has organised various choir events. Julia is a member of the Equality Committee of the Suomen kuoronjohtajayhdistys (Assosiation of Finnish choir conductors), and writes about choir-related topics in her blog "Kuoromusiikin säveltävät naiset" ("Women composing choir music").
