Sheila Coughlin will be presenting a kantele program that weaves together words and song. She will be performing kantele songs that she has worked on throughout the past year in a kantele mentorship funded by a grant through the Minnesota State Arts Board. Kantele is a Finnish, lap harp which has traditions that are older than 2,000 years. It is the national instrument of Finland. Come learn about the rich traditions associated and listen to songs of Finland on 5-string, 10-string, and 36-string kantele. Sheila’s music is inspired by Finnish folklore, nature, and the long-standing traditions of kantele in Finnish America, Finland, and around the world. She is honored to share kantele music and tradition at FinnFest this year.

Performer Bio: Sheila Coughlin is a kantele player of Finnish American heritage. Her work takes special interest in cultural preservation, language, and tradition. She has spent the past year developing her kantele skills in a mentorship with Diane Jarvi, singer, songwriter, and kantele artist. Funded by a 2024 grant through the Minnesota State Arts Board, the mentorship focused on preparing her for continued work as a culture bearer of Finnish kantele traditions while working on her personal creative voice. Sheila plays 5-string, 10-string, 11-string, and 36-string kantele and is studying the rich traditions associated. Kantele is the national instrument of Finland. The history and traditions are older than 2,000 years. Sheila is working with words from the Kalevala, a Finnish national epic, and other traditional texts while she learns to set lyrics to music. Sheila holds an individualized BA/BAS degree in Human Services from the University of Wisconsin-Superior which focused on art therapy and cultural studies. She has worked in the field of Ojibwe language revitalization and is a singer with Oshkii Giizhik Singers, a women’s hand drum group from the Fond du Lac community and surrounding areas. She is a certified herbalist and a language learner of Finnish and Ojibwe languages. She is a new member of Kanteleen Soittajat, a kantele ensemble from the Duluth area. Her roots as a 4th generation Finnish American drives her passion for Finnish music, culture, and tradition.