
Lauri Tuomisto Jurva	Minna Ristimäki Ylöjärvi	Johan-Antti Kivilahti Haapajärvi

Menni Leinonen Lappeenranta	Eemeli Morander Somerniemi	Essi Elomäki Pori
Mikko Suihkola from Sievi		Winner of the Silver Accordion
*Contestants in the Silver Accordion*
*Lauri Tuomisto, Jurva (age 9)* trad./arr. Veikko Ahvenainen: Meidän kylän tyttäret Lauri got interested in playing the accordion after seeing the finales of the Golden and the Silver Accordion on TV when he was about 5 years old. He hasn’t even considered trying any other instruments. Now Lauri’s been playing the accordion for two and a half years, and is being taught by Seppo Heikkilä. Although Lauri plays the accordion for over an hour every day, he’s still got some time left for all kinds of summer hobbies, such as athletics and football. In winter Lauri likes to ski a lot. Besides sports and music Lauri likes animals, nature, and drawing. The social young man likes slower kind of music the best, but enjoys playing happy and lively pieces as well. Menni Leinonen, Lappeenranta (10) composed by Toivo Kärki, arr. Virve Jääskeläinen: Tiku ja Taku Menni has been playing the accordion for four and a half years now, with Päivi Valkeajoki as her teacher. During the spring Menni has gathered experience of performing as her teacher has fixed some gigs up for her. In addition to this Menni has been practicing daily and on the first week of her summer holiday she attended a music camp in Joutseno where she also got to play big time. The piece that Menni plays in the contest was her favorite song already before she had even considered taking part in the Silver Accordion. Menni finds the rhythm of the tune fun and really nice to listen to. Menni enjoys rhythmic music most. Menni competes in swimming and describes herself as a lively girl who enjoys playing the accordion, singing, dancing, and sports. Before the Midsummer Menni was waiting for the contest in high spirits. She knows that the atmosphere at the contest is great, since she was there last year to witness the event. Johan-Antti Kivilahti, Haapajärvi (10) Brahms: Unkarilainen tanssi n:o 4 Johan-Antti got interested in the accordion while watching the finale of the Silver Accordion on TV. Now he’s been playing for three years with Erkki Ihalainen as his teacher. For the last two years Johan-Antti has also been playing folk music with his big brother in a band called ”Speelarit”, and they’ve been on gigs even in Estonia! In addition to the accordion, Johan-Antti plays electric guitar. Although Johan-Antti has been practicing thorughly for the Silver Accordion, he still has had some time left for his other passion: pole-vault. He made his personal record, which is two meters, earlier this summer. Johan-Antti finds the piece he has chosen for the Silver Accordion quite challenging. With the accordion he likes to play dance music, but with the electric guitar heavy music and rock. Johan-Antti characterizes himself as quite a quiet person. Minna Ristamäki, Ylöjärvi (9) Hannu Sepponen, transcription Sami Varvio / Pekka Kallio : Pikkuveli (PMMP) Minna has been playing the accordion for almost four years now. Her teachers are Sami Varvio and Pekka Kallio. This summer Minna attended the accordion camp in Ikaalinen, played in all the concerts there and performed with her camp mates at the marketplace in Ikaalinen. Minna has been preparing for the Silver Accordion by practicing a lot. This pop and rock loving girl chose to perform a song of PMMP’s, one of her favourite bands, in the contest. Minna describes the song as brisk and fun to play. Minna likes different kinds of music, but never forgets to highlight that the Finnish Lordi is superior to others. With her friends Minna likes to sing karaoke. Minna also tells that she has a ”band” of her own.-I play the accordion and Roosa sings... Roosa is my dog. She likes to sing polka. Eemeli Morander, Somerniemi (9) Kari Kuuba, transcription Seppo Leino: Daada daada Eemeli has been playing the accordion for nearly five years. His big brother played the instrument first and so Eemeli got excited about that too. Eemeli is the second oldest of the three Morander brothers, all of which play the accordion and are a familiar sight at gigs both together and separately. Eemeli’s teacher is Marjo Suominen. This spring Eemeli took part in an accordion contest in Pula, Crotia. Eemeli found the atmosphere there a little bit more ”tense” than in the Silver Accordion, where he competed last year as well. According to Eemeli, the trip was, however, very pleasant, as he got to swim a bit too. Eemeli, is a lively fellow, and admits that he sometimes finds himself in quite a hurry. He’s got a big bunch of hobbies, he swims all year long, skis, ice-skates, plays volleyball, and floorball in the winter, and football in the summer. In addition to all of this he’s also into athletics and orienteering. Besides playing the accordion, Eemeli studies theory of music in Karkkla music school. Eemeli is an athletic young man and enjoys playing fast-tempoed songs, but feels that from time to time it’s quite nice to play slower tunes as well. Essi Elomäki, Pori (10) Simo Silmu, transcription by Vesa Formunen: TV:n kokoinen haitari Essi started to play the accordion for four years ago with the guidance of Vesa Formunen. She got interested in in the instrument after seeing her grandfather play in photos. As she heard that her grandfather, who she had never met, had played the accordion for all his life, she wanted try it as well. This is the second time that Essi takes part in the Silver Accordion, and she’s also been on gigs with her little sister Ella. The girls’ performing has truly paid off since the girls have been able to buy themselves a dog, thanks to the pay they’ve received from the gigs. For the finale of the Silver Accordion Essi’s been preparing by playing a lot and performing with an accordion orchestra. With this group Essi is heading for France this fall to play. The piece that Essi chose for the Silven Accordion finale is one of her favourite songs. She really enjoys the Music of the group ”Yölintu”. As Essi’s sister already plays the accordion, her little brother is about to start and her father has been practicing a bit too, there’s been talk about forming a family quartet. Essi, who’s been the teacher of her father’s, tells that he has been an enthusiastic student. At home Essi has been playing together with her sister and father, but hasn’t been able to persuade her father to join them on gigs. Mikko Suihkola, Sievi (9) Erkki Ihalainen-Lasse Könönen: Vossikka-ajelulla At home of the Suihkola family life is full of accordion sounds as Mikko and all of his three sisters play the instrument. Mikko got excited about playing at the age of six, as his two older sisters set the example for him. Now he’s been playing for three years with Erkki Ihalainen as his teacher. For the Silver Accordion finale Mikko has been getting ready by playing at home and performing on gigs. He tells he’s been practicing his piece a few times a day. Mikko says that this spring he’s been performing more than before. In June Mikko spent a week on an accordion camp in Reisjärvi, where he played a lot and got some good, new tips for his competition tune which he finds nice and cheerful. Actually, cheerful tunes are Mikko’s favourite ones to play. In addition to playing, Mikko has also had some time to be outdoors, play football and swim.