About the association
Keeping a living tradition in living hands.
A non-profit cultural society for everyone who plays, dances or simply loves the folk music of Northern Savonia.
Our history
Savonia has always been a land of fiddlers. In farmhouses and village halls around the lakes, polskas, waltzes and wedding marches passed from one player to the next long before anyone wrote them down. Our association grew out of that same habit: neighbours gathering to play together.
What began as informal sessions became a registered association with members across Northern Savonia, a large community ensemble — SawoFolk — and a growing archive of regional tunes. Today our players range from schoolchildren to great-grandparents, and we perform at regional events and national festivals including Kaustinen.
Mission
To preserve, teach and celebrate the traditional folk music, instruments and gatherings of Northern Savonia — and keep them open to all.
Vision
A region where every child can hear, learn and play its own tunes, and every village has music to gather around.
Board & leadership
Elected annually by the members at the general meeting. All board positions are voluntary and unpaid.
Mathilda Brady
Chair of the Board
Fiddler and music educator who has led weekly pelimanni sessions for over fifteen years. Oversees strategy, partnerships and the association's administration.
Aino Kärkkäinen
Vice Chair · Education
Kantele teacher from Iisalmi. Coordinates youth workshops and our free places programme for players under eighteen.
Pekka Hyvärinen
Treasurer
Retired accountant and double-bass player. Prepares the annual accounts presented to members and the independent auditor.
Liisa Tiihonen
Secretary · Archive
Leads the transcription of tunes collected from Savonian players and keeps the minutes of every board meeting.
Janne Ruotsalainen
Board Member · Events
Bassist and stage manager behind our festival appearances and summer concert series.
Transparency
Official registration & compliance
- Legal name
- Pohjois-Savon Kansanmusiikkiyhdistys ry
- English name
- Northern Savonia Folk Music Association
- Registration number
- PRO: 10666551
- Legal form
- Registered association (rekisteröity yhdistys, ry) under the Finnish Associations Act (503/1989)
- Status
- Non-profit, non-political, public-benefit cultural association
- Head office
- Munkkisaarenkatu 6, 00150 Helsinki, Finland
- Governance
- Annual general meeting, elected board, independent auditor (toiminnantarkastaja)