Timo Väänen is the only artist int he world who plays the electric 39-stringed kantele. And, there are only three electric kanteles in the world. He plays various types of kanteles, the Finnish national instrument. Lately he has concentrated on making new music with the uniquely modern electric kantele. It incorporates a built-in microphone and is played on a matchingly futuristic table. In his second solo cd "Matka Voyage", he experiments with contemporary sounds of the new incarnation on the ancient instrument.

EDUCATION
1999 : Master of Music, Sibelius Academy, Folk Music Department
1995 : Kantele studies in Riga, Latvia, teacher Valdis Muktupavels

MERITS
1997 : The Young Artist of the Year, Finland Festivals
1997 : Kantele of the Year, Finnish Kantele Association
1997 : Appreciation Award of the Pesant Culture Foundation
1997 : Martti Pokela Award

GRANTS
2003-2005 : National Board of Arts, three year artist grant
2002 : National Board of Arts, travel grant
2001 : National Board of Arts, half year artist grant
2000 : National Board of Arts, travel grant
1999 : National Board of Arts, grant for Martti Pokela publication
1997 : Kalevala Koru Cultural Foundation, grant for multimedia production

BANDS
Loituma, the Band of the Year, Kaustinen Folk Music Festival; Á tre, 1st prize in the National Kantele Competition in concert music 1993; Matara: Anita Lehtola, vocal; Bj÷rn Tollin, percussions; Leena Joutsenlahti, wind instruments; Timo Väänänen, the electric kantele; Psalterium Kantele Ensembele: Elisa Kerola?Tuuri, Eija Kankaanranta, Sinikka Langeland, Timo Väänänen

COMPETITIONS
1995 : 1st prize in national kantele competition in folk music and small kanteles
1989 : 3rd prize in national kantele competition in concert music

RECORDINGS
Festival of Finnish Kantele Music - collection , FINLANDIA 10, (2002 Warner Music, Finlandia Records); Paulina Lerche: Katrilli (2002, Ruoterecords); Matka-Voyage, solo cd with electric kantele ( 2001, Ondine); Go, kantele go! (2001 Pro Visual OY); Martti Pokela publication, 3 books and cd, producer, (2000?2001 Sibelius Academy); Toivo Alaspää : Mestari ja kisällit, (2000, Folk Music Institute member of a band and recording engineer); Wheels, solo cd with multimedia, (1999 Warner Music, Finlandia Records, Innovator); Leena Joutsenlahti: Makale, (1999 Sibelius Academy and Olarin Musiikki); Yleinen hätänumero, (1999 Tuotantotalo Maria); In the Moonshine, (1998 Folk Music Institute/ 1999 NorthSide, USA); Folk Music Experience, collection, (1998 Warner, Finlandia); Boundless Awakenings, collection, (1998 Warner Music, Finlandia Records, Innovator); Snow Kantele, (1997 Warner Music, Finlandia Records, Innovator); Loituma / Beautiful Things, (1995, Sib. Acad.& Kansanmusiikki?instituutti / 1998 NorthSide USA); Glyph, vieraileva solisti, (1995 MTM Grammed Discs, France); Best of Kantele, collection, (1995 Warner Music, Finlandia Records); Sonata for Kantele, (1995 Warner Music, Finlandia Records); Dear Friends, Final Fantasy IV, (1993, Squaresoft, Japan); Kuulas Hetki, (1991, Sibelius Academy and Olarin musiikki); Radio recordings, (1989? for YLE, National broadcasting company)

INTERNATIONAL CONCERTS
2002 : Solo concert with electric kantele, Kihaus Festival, Finland; Solo concert with electric kantele in Parkhouse, Graz, Austria; Kantele Goes Electric -production, Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, Finland; Rauwan synty -production with percussionist Björn Tollin, Ilomantsi Kantele Week, Finland; Introvert Music festival, Riga, Latvia; Loituma, Gooik, Belgium; Network North tour, Faro Islands, England, Wales, Shetland, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Ireland.
2001 : Solo concert, Schleswig?Holsteinin Musik Festival, Germany; Solo concert, Vienna, Haus der Musik
2000 : Solo concert in Soul, South Korea; Loituma tour, Germany; Loituma tour, Minneapolis; Loituma, Festival de Ris Orangis, France
1999 : Solo concert, Seattle, USA; Solo concert, Vancouver, Canada; Tour with a band, Beijing, Sanghai, Tientsin, Tsintao, China; Loituma tour, Germany; Loituma tour in Belgium and Netherlands.
1998 : Loituma, Festival de Ris Orangis, France.
1997 : Solo concert in Pecs, Budapest; Loituma tour, Germany
Loituma tour in Belgium and Netherlands; À tre tour in Germany.
1996 : Solo concert in Lithuania; Solo concert in Bekescsaba, Hungary; Solo tour in Iceland; Loituma, Festival of contemporary Folk Music of EBU, Dennmark.
1995 : Concerts with Minna Raskinen and Á tre, Japan; Á tre tour in Germany; Tummunnoita Band, Russia; Tour with a band, Latvia.
1994 : Solo tour in Germany; Á tre, Russia; Tour with a band, Latvia
1993 : Á tre, Russia; Solo concert in Estonia
1992 : Loituma tour in Russia

CONCERTS IN FINLAND
2002 : Solo concert in Kihaus Folk Music Festival, Rääkkylä; Kantele Goes Electric -production, Kaustinen Folk Music Festival
Solo concert, Lahti Sibelius House; Lelo - Finno-ugric production, Helsinki; Á tre concert, Helsinki.
2001 : Solo concert with electric kantele, Taiga Festival in Helsinki; Kihaus Folk Music Festival, Rääkkylä, Kantele 2001 Concert; Makale, improvisation concert with Leena Joutsenlahti Ensemble, Helsinki.
2000 : Matara / Kantele 2001 concert, Kihaus Folk Music Festival, Rääkkylä; Solo concert, loituma and ;atara, Kaustinen Folk Music Festival; Haapavesi Folk (Loituma)
1999 : Väinön lieskat - Kalevala 150 th anniversary concert, Helsinki; Hanko Summer Concerts.
1998 : MTV3 Christmas Carrols in Särestö
1997 : The Young Artist of the Year: Loituma, Rovaniemi Festival; À tre, Joensuu Music Festival; Mikkeli Music Festival; Rääkkylän Kihaus; À tre, Haapavesi Folk; Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival; Solo concert and Loituma, Kaustinen Folkmusic Festival; Jyväskylä Summer Concerts; Miehikkälä Folk Festival; Saariselkä Chapel; Säreistö Autumn Concerts; Sibelius Academy Concert Serie, Helsinki; Christmas Carrols, Iisalmi

TEACHING
2001-2002 : Teacher of electric kantele, Courses of Kantele Project, Joensuu
2000-2001 : Helsinki Concervatory, kantele teacher (part time)
1996 : Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, kantele teacher and lecturer (part time)
1999 : Pakila Music Institute, history of music (part time)
Seattle (USA) Kanteleworkshop
1998 : Kuopio Concervatory, kantele teacher (part time)
1994, 1996, 1998-2002 : Ilomantsi Kantele Summer Course
Artistic director 2000-2002
1984-1990 : Mikkeli Music Institute, kantele teacher (part time)


Contact :
Manager Helena Ruhkala
Tel : +358 13 267 5332
GSM: +358 50 346 2296
E mail: helena.ruhkala@jns.fi