Experience Finnish Heritage and make your own kantele.
What is a kantele, you say? The kantele, is a lap harp, originated in ancient times but faded from popularity until a resurgence in the 1950s. The kantele is now taught in most Finnish schools as the first musical instrument for children. Finnish musicians are magnifying their skills resulting in an exciting evolution of the kantele. HIT’s Kantele Festival project will introduce the community to this old folk instrument and how to play it in traditional and nontraditional ways. Classes will be held for 2 weeks in September.
The first kantele event in June will be a 5-day kantele building workshop held at St Maud’s in Pence, WI and taught by LynnAnne Vesper of Ely, MN. LynnAne studied folk music and learned to make kanteles at the Folk Arts Center in Kaustinen, Finland. For 10 years, she worked with Gerry Henkel, the major builder of kanteles in North America, and has assumed ownership of his shop. Ms. Vesper will be at St. Maud’s for the 5-day kantele building community workshop starting on June 8th. She will be assisted by Karl Zinsmaster, owner of St. Maud’s. Tickets are $260 for the 5-day workshop.
Only 10 spots are available for this exclusive cultural course!
