One of the key elements of “The Neurosciences and Music | VIII” congress will naturally consist of live music. The Social Program will offer short music performances during the conference days – those will be complemented by two musical evenings. Altogether, these music performances will host Finnish artists and innovative uses of music in educational and clinical settings. In addition, the Social Program will include a Welcome reception and a conference dinner.
Social events are free except the conference dinner which require a separate payment.
No registration is requested at the moment. In May a form will be circulated asking to specify attendance in order to calculate the number of participants.
16.20-16.30
Musical interlude 1
Russ Palmer: Deafblind Blues
Russ Palmer is an extraordinary musician and music therapist who is registered deafblind and hears music with two cochlear implants. Russ’ philosophy is called “feeling the music”: through musical expression and therapy he applies a concept of how people who are losing their hearing and sight can feel musical vibrations and learn to hear changes in pitch.
17.45-19.30
Welcome reception
Held at the historic and beautiful Great Hall of the University of Helsinki Main building, the Welcome reception will feature the official welcome addresses from the University of Helsinki, the Mariani Foundation, and our local hosting committee. Celebrating the Finnish academic singing tradition, this is followed by a musical performance from Tunturipojat, a talented a cappella singing group emerged from the YL Male Voice Choir of University of Helsinki, one of the oldest choirs in Finland. After this, enjoy snacks (vegetarian) & drinks in the foyer next to the Great Hall.
13.15-13.30
Musical interlude 2
Helsinki Aphasia Choir
Led by choir conductor & singing teacher Essi-Reetta Särkämö and music therapist Sari Laitinen, the singers of this special choir are aphasic persons and their caregivers. Their unique performance will feature Finnish popular songs and a demonstration of melodic intonation therapy applied in the group setting.
19.30-22.00
Evening at Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo)
Held at Musiikkitalo, home of the Sibelius Academy and many leading Finnish orchestras, this evening will celebrate diversity & equality in music education, with special musical performances at the Black Box by Resonaarigroup, an amazing band consisting of musicians with developmental disability, and Siina Suutarinen Quartet, a rising quartet of young jazz musicians from the Department of Jazz of Sibelius Academy. Enjoy also a light buffet dinner (vegetarian) & drinks in the foyer next to the Black Box.
12.55-13.10
Musical interlude 3
Anna-Karin Korhonen
A versatile musician, composer, arranger, and pedagogue who has been at the forefront of renewing the playing technique of the concert kantele (Finnish zither) and expanding the repertoire of this traditional Finnish instrument to include e.g., jazz and pop music.
17.15-17.30
Musical interlude 4
Elisa Seppänen
A music educator with passion for rhythm collectives, global music, and collective and creative learning processes, hosts a body percussion session for conference participants who have already been sitting for too long in their chairs.
20.00-23.00
Dinner at Restaurant Sipuli (Payment required)
Housed in a historic red brick warehouse, Restaurant Sipuli provides an idyllic venue for our conference dinner, which takes place in the atmospheric Winter Garden of the restaurant, right at the foot of the Uspenki Cathedral. Come enjoy a great menu and drinks and chat with your colleagues.
13.00-13.15
Musical interlude 5
Verna Kylmänen
A young musician studying accordion at the Sibelius Academy. In her performance, she displays the possibilities of this instrument traditionally associated with folk music and schlager.
19.30-00.00
Closing party at Bar Loose
Brain bursting with all that amazing science? Body stiff from all that sitting? Heard enough about musical rhythm, groove, and reward and feel the need to experience them yourself? Time to loosen both body & mind at the closing party held at Bar Loose, an iconic and authentic rock club and bar at the heart of Helsinki. Enjoy drinks & mingle at the upstairs bar or venture downstairs to the live venue for some steamy funk/jazz and progressive metal skilfully delivered by young musicians from the Sibelius upper secondary school and by Nerve End.