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| Kaisa
Kujanpää from Lapua wins the prized Golden Accordion Award |
 19
year old Kaisa Kujanpää
from Lapua won the prized Golden Accordion Award scoring perfect 10's
from each of the judges in the final round. Kaija was playing against
five other fellow contestants: Heli Nikula from Kalajoki, Henna-Maija
Kuki from Nivala, Tarja Alakorkko from Rovaniemi, Anna-Kaisa Penttinen
from Jyväskylä and Timo Savinainen from Tuuupovaara.
The competition is presented as a live TV show filmed and broadcast as
part of the 32nd Annual Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival in Ikaalinen.
Preliminary rounds were held onboard the Silja Europa cruise from Finland
to Sweden and back that was held in March. During this competition, eliminations
were held to select the finalists that performed live to a sold out audience.
Each of the contestants were filmed as part of the live national Television
Show where Kaisa played an upbeat version of a Piazzolla Tango and for
her second round, played Sähinäs Samba by Lasse Pihlajamaa.
 After
each contestant presented their first performance, the candidates were
invited back to the stage for a musical potpourri of Finnish pieces. While
the judges were working, each of the contestants was invited to step forward
and perform a well-known Finnish piece, once again with the backing orchestra.
When the judges presented their scores, three finalists were selected
and then asked to present one more round, where they were judged again.
In this second round, Kaisa played a lively Sahina Samba by Lasse Pihlajamaa
and went on to gain the Golden Accordion Title. |
 The
TV Show was opened by hosts Silja Sillanpää and Kimmo Mattila
who welcomed viewers and capacity studio audience to the annual Golden
and Silver Accordion Awards Show with some performing of their own.
Even the adjudicator panel got up and played one selection in an impromptu
performance.
Kimmo is the Musical Director of the Sata-Häme Soi - Accordion Festival
and in addition is President of the Finnish Accordion Association and
the Finnish Accordion Institute.
 Silja
served as the host for the Silver Accordion Award which was the first
half of the show and Kimmo for the Golden Accordion Award with both joining
the stage for the final rounds and awards.
Between the Silver and Golden Award competitions, the audience was treated
to a performance by the lively Bryac Quartet from the Ukraine featuring
accordion and three Balalaika artists. |
| Meet
the other Golden Accordion Award Contestants |
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Heli
Nikula from Kalajoki (24 years old)
Pietro's Return March - P. Deiro
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Henna-Maija
Kuki from Nivala (17 years old)
Hora Staccato - Heifetz
2nd Round: Näin On by Hietaharju
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Tarja
Alakorkko from Rovaniemi (24 years old)
Paris Waltz by Lasse Pihlajamaa
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Anna-Kaisa
Penttinen from Jyväskylä (17 years old)
Snow Train Shuffle by John Gart
2nd Round: United Nations Polka by Reic Gylling
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Timo
Savinainen from Tuuupovaara (22 years old)
Flambee Montalbanaise by Gus Viseur
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| Final
Results from the Golden Accordion Award |
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Golden
Accordion Final Round
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| 1st |
Kaisa
Kujanpaa |
Lapua |
60
points |
| 2nd= |
Anna-Kaisa
Penttinen |
Jyväskylä |
55
points |
| 2nd= |
Henna-Maija
Kuki |
Nivala |
55
points |
|
Golden
Accordion First Round
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| 1. |
Kaisa
Kujanpaa |
Lapua |
56
points |
| 2. |
Henna-Maija
Kuki |
Nivala |
56
points |
| 3. |
Anna-Kaisa
Penttinen |
Jyväskylä |
55
points |
| 4. |
Tarja
Alakorkko |
Rovaniemi |
51
points |
| 5. |
Heli
Nikula |
Kalajoki |
48
points |
| 6. |
Timo
Savinainen |
Tuuupovaara |
45
points |
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| Juuso
Vesterinen from Taipalsaari Wins the Silver Accordion Award |
 Ten
year old accordionist Juuso Vesterinen from Taipalsaari won the Silver
Accordion Award for children 10 years and under, competing against Sanna
Sallinen from Äänekoski, Julia Suihkola from Sievi, Joni Stein
from Haapajärvi, Senni-Maaria Rantanen from Karkkila, Taneli Järvenpää
from Kiukainen and Joona Vuopala from Kouvola at the sold out live TV
show finals.
Juuso played an energetic version of Baby Elephant Walk by Henry Mancini,
arranged by Virve Jääskeläinen. A student of Päivi
Valkeajoki, Juuso also enjoys athletics, swimming and football. |
| Meet
the other Silver Accordion Award Contestants: |
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Sanna
Sallinen, 9 years old from Äänekoski
performing Punasaappaat, a traditional piece arranged by Lasse Könönen
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Julia
Suihkola, 9 years old from Sievi
playing Kamarinskaja, a traditional piece arranged by
Lars Holm
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Joni
Stein, 8 years old from Haapajärvi
performing Kaarisilta, written by Joni Stein
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Senni-Maaria
Rantanen, 8 years old from Karkkila
performing Matkoilla (Ystävyys-Pariisissa-Mökillä) by
Senni-Maaria Rantanen
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Joona
Vuopala, 10 years old from Kouvola
performing Mikkihiiri Ja Susihukka by G. Malmsten
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 As
each contestant entered the stage, they were asked a few questions relating
to their hobbies and musical background. After Joni told Silja that he
was playing a piece he had composed himself, she asked how many pieces
he had composed altogether.
Much to the amusement of the audience, eight year old Joni Stein (pictured
left) could only explain that it was 'this' many by showing how big the
stack of his original music was getting. |
| Adjudicators
for the Golden and Silver Accordion Awards |
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 Judges
for the Golden and Silver Accordion Competitions were: from above left
to right:
- Elias Ukkonen
- Oleg Sharov
- Iiris Koronen
- Taisto Lunkka
- Arto Kivekäs
- Seppo Lankinen.
At the conclusion
of the judging, each judge was asked to display his or her score for
the contestant. These scores were then fed into a computer which instantly
calculated and displayed the results on the overhead screens.
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