Friday, August 1 at 8:00 PM
Denfeld High School Auditorium in Duluth

Come and experience an inspiring night of all-Finnish classical music with the FinnFest
Symphony Orchestra, organized specifically by FinnFest USA for FinnFest 2025. Professional musicians from across the country will join members of the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra to play in this concert. Finland’s Ambassador to the US Leena-Kaisa Mikkola and other dignitaries will be in attendance.  

The 2025 concert showcases Sibelius’s symphonic repertoire in this all-Finnish evening, heard together with two significant late-20th-century Finnish composers.  Craig Randal Johnson will conduct.   

Jean Sibelius En Saga
Kari Tikka Cello Concerto
Eino-Juhani Rautavaara Symphony, No. 1 
Jean Sibelius Finlandia 

Betsy Husby, Principal Cellist, Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, will play the solo cello in the North American premiere of Tikka’s work. The 70-voice International Finnish Choir, honored in 2024 as Suomi Seura’s Expatriate of the Year, will join the orchestra in “Finlandia.”

Tikka, composer and conductor, wrote music in many forms, including the opera “Luther” performed in a North American premiere as well as numerous works for use in churches. His passing in 2022 led FinnFest to dedicate their 2023 publication, “Finnish Heritage Hymnbook” to his memory. 

Historic Denfeld High School auditorium, one of Duluth’s early-20th-century architectural landmarks, will provide excellent acoustics and sightlines from all seats.

Tickets will be available soon on Eventnbrite.