POHJOLA, Erkki – 1931 - 2009. The world lost an exceptional conductor and music educator on Monday past (January 19). Erkki Pohjola of Finland passed away after a long illness. Erkki was a professor emeritus of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. His story and his contribution are both remarkable. Erkki was a physical education teacher and young parent in Helsinki when in 1964, he happened to attend a music education conference in Budapest where he was utterly inspired by two famous music educators - Zoltan Kodaly and Carl Orff. On Erkki’s return to Finland, he decided to go back to university and train as a music teacher (already being an amateur musician). On graduation, he returned to the Tapiola School where he had formerly been the gym teacher. He formed a school choir which very quickly became recognized for its beautiful free sound and musicality. Then with his “instrument” the Tapiola Choir, he forged new links with leading contemporary composers, and encouraged them to write for the children’s choir as a unique and significant artistic vehicle. Erkki also was responsible for the reform and development of a bold new music education movement for Finland’s public schools, which became an international model of excellence. He authored the new program and also led the movement to enshrine the new system in legislation. The Tapiola Choir made over 20 recordings and these were a model for many choirs in the world. In effect, he was responsible for the global children\'s and youth choir movement which is still flourishing around the world today. In 1986 he established the international choral festival Sympatti. In 1999, he initiated the Songbridge project, a UNESCO sponsored initiative. Songbridge brings together fine young choirs from disparate cultures to live, work, play and perform together, each choir bringing a premiere composition from one of the great composers of each culture. The theme of each new work is based on some aspect of peace and/or social justice. The composers must write the songs with distinct and unique parts for each participating choir, so no choir can perform their own song by themselves and all sing in the language and cultural style of the other.
Erkki has had a strong and long connection to Newfoundland and Labrador. He was brought here by Shallaway (formerly NSYC) for a month-long residency in 1996. When he and his wife Aino arrived at our airport, the children greeted him singing the Finnish national anthem “Finlandia” in English, while waving their Finnish flags which they made themselves. On his departure a month later, these same children (now in grad school) bid farewell by singing “Finlandia” in Finnish. Shallaway subsequently toured Finland in 1999, has hosted other Finnish musicians here and has been involved in three Songbridge projects. Erkki visited and worked in St. John’s many times since, and was always a great source of encouragement and facilitation in Shallaway’s international growth. Festival 500 gave him their “Builder” award for his involvement and encouragement over the years. Erkki Pohjola was a marvellous model for young people everywhere. He was a visionary, but just as importantly, an “actionary”. His confidence and belief in youth empowered them well beyond the music. Erkki believed profoundly that music is a powerful force for building and sustaining understanding between people of all cultures. Since Erkki’s passing, messages from Shallaway alumni have been pouring in. Their words provide the most fitting of tributes, as we say a last goodbye and treasure memories of this most remarkable person.