Vaput, women's choir in Jyväskylä, Finland

Female choir Vaput - 113 years of singing

Vaput is an active amateur choral group singing a wide-ranging repertoire from sacred music and folk music to contemporary songs. The choir is based in the City of Jyväskylä in Central Finland.

The choir was born in an era when women still needed, at least in theory, a permission from their husbands to take part in this kind of activity, and when most cultural activities were held in Swedish. Vaput is the oldest Finnish speaking - and singing - women's choir still active today. Vaput is not, however, in any way old and tired. There are new challenging projects going on all the time which keep the choir young! And nowadays we sing in other languages, too.

The director Mrs Ulla Kotamäki is a professional music educator. The choir works as part of an adult education institute of the Settlement of Jyvälä, Jyvälän kansalaisopisto. At the same time the choir is an independent registered association.

The choir has performed in several countries. A CD, Sydämellä, Vaput, was published in 2012. The CD contains Finnish songs especially composed for Vaput during a period of about 100 years.

Tuulantei Ensemble

Within the choir there are smaller groups. The oldest of them is Lauluyhtye Tuulantei. Tuulantei is an actively practicing and performing group lead by Hilkka Heikkilä.

Concerts

Vaput organizes several concerts each year alone or in cooperation with others. Every First of May Vaput held a coffee concert. Throughout the history of Vaput, the choir has performed in the Vappu Day. That is where the name "Vaput" refers to - the First of May, Vappu in Finnish.

The choir and/or its smaller groups can be ordered to perform in many kinds of private or public events and celebrations, see contact information below. As the choir has a vast selection of songs to choose from the performance can be tailored for the mood of the event.

National activities

Vaput is an active member of Sulasol, The Finnish Amateur Musicians' Association. Vaput is also one of the founding members of Suomen Naiskuoroliitto, The Finnish Association of Women's Choirs and a member of Sulasol.

Membership

If you know enough language to sing with us in Finnish - and if you can sing! - you are welcome to join Vaput after a short singing test. There is a membership fee of 2x €34/year, students and unemployed -50%. The study fee of Jyvälä is around €60 per semester.

Contact information

Please don't hesitate to contact Vaput! Send a message to the chair and vice conductor of Vaput, Ms Hilkka Heikkilä, heikkilahilkka() gmail.com.

Pages in English were written by Ms Outi Raatikainen, oraatikainen() gmail.com.