Folk Music Education, Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki

Sibelius-Academy is the only music academy in Finland and, with 1,700 students, one of the largest in Europe. Founded in 1882, the Academy now covers all but every aspect of music, from baroque to rock.



The degree programme in folk music was initiated at the Sibelius Academy in 1983.





The short history of our department has been full of experiments, and adventures, as well as the challenging and dissolving of barriers. The musical bases have been the Finnish and global folk music traditions. Our key function, however, is to make our own, new music. Interaction with other fields of music and the arts in general is paramount.