CIA - Accordions Worldwide

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News from Finland…
Suomen Harmonikkaliitto – Finnish Accordion
Association: The Suomen Harmonikkaliitto - Finnish
Accordion Association (SHL) was founded on the 27
September 1952 and there are currently
approximately 5,000 active members including
approximately 95 clubs and orchestras from all over
the country. The SHL is supported annually by the
Ministry of Education and its main annual activities
include:
• Magazine ‘Hanuri’ for members, four
times per year
• Live TV Competition "Golden and
Silver Accordion"
• Accordion Cruise in March
• Supports and sponsors seminars
and educational activities
• Supports Finnish candidates for
International Competitions
The Suomen Harmonikkaliitto cooperates closely with
several organizations including:
• Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival
• Finnish Accordion Institute (Ikaalinen)
• Accordion Teachers' Association
(approximately 140 members)
Suomen Harmonikkaliitto (SHL)
President: Mr. Kimmo Mattila (Ikaalinen)
E-mail: kimmo.mattila@harmonikkaliitto.net
Vice President: Mr. Seppo Lankinen (Loppi)
E-mail: s.lankinen@pp.inet.fi
Board Members: Mr. Markku Lindeman, Mr. Dr. Pasi Hirvonen
Ms. Anita Aronen, Mrs. Mika Hakala, Mrs. Reijo Ahonen
Press Manager: Mrs. Minna Plihtari
Secretary: Mrs. Marja-Leena Heikkilä
Suomen Harmonikkaliitto
Kimmo Mattila - President
Kyrösselänkatu 3, FIN-39500 Ikaalinen, FINLAND
Telephone: +358 3 440 0221 Fax: +358 3 458 9071
E-mail: toimisto@harmonikkaliitto.net
The Sata-Häme Soi Festival 2009: This years Sata-
Häme Soi Festival in Ikaalinen, Finland attracted a
record number of visitors with more than 37,200
guests coming to enjoy the spectacular variety of
concerts and competitions both indoors and
outdoors.
The first event of the annual Sata-Häme Soi
Accordion Festival is a folk concert held at Lasse
Pihlajamaa's monument "In the Memory of My
Mother" on the outskirts of Jämijärvi. What made this
years ceremony extremely momentous, was the
appearance of
Lasse's wife Maire,
who in accordance
with Lasse's will,
presented the official
legal document
presenting all his
manuscripts and
music, including all
the copyright and
ownership to the
Finnish Accordion
Institute. Pictured is
Mrs. Pihlajamaa making this presentation to Kimmo
Mattila at the Monument site near Jämijärvi.
The first competitions of the festival pay tribute to the
traditional Folk Accordion scene in Finland, with
contestants playing on 1 and 2 row and 5 row
instruments. The second competition is the live TV
Show is called the Golden and Silver Accordion. The
Winner of the Golden Accordion was Katariina
Ahjoniemi and the Winner of the Silver Accordion
was Arttu Rajala, pictured above.