A broad and varied path of study
Kaisa, who grew up in Hankasalmi, began her musical studies as a child with the violin. Later came the piano and opportunities to perform in various orchestras, and in lower secondary school she discovered her enthusiasm for choir singing. Her route to becoming a choir conductor led through the Finnish Music Campus, where she first pursued university studies in musicology and music education. She also completed a musician's qualification at Gradia vocational education, specialising in pop/jazz singing. The opportunity to study choir conducting at Jamk, however, was what truly inspired her. She graduated as a choir conductor from what was then the musician degree program in 2015, with piano, singing, and orchestral conducting as her minors. After that, she continued her pop/jazz singing studies at Jamk and graduated as a music pedagogue in 2019.
Practical training formed an essential part of Jamk’s choir conducting studies and led her quickly into the heart of the profession. Assistant conductor roles with Harjun Laulu and Cantinovum, as well as conducting responsibilities in the Finnish Music Campus musical production, all supported her professional development. A significant step in her career development was a student exchange period. While studying pop/jazz singing at Jamk, Kaisa spent her exchange year in Denmark at the Royal Academy of Music in Aalborg (RAMA). After graduating, she returned to Aalborg to complete a master’s degree in rhythmic choral conducting. "It was incredibly eye opening and undoubtedly one of the best decisions I've made, to continue my studies abroad."
Working as a Music Pedagogue and Choir Conductor
Kaisa works at Gradia, on the Finnish Music Campus. Her role includes teaching singing, vocal ensemble work, choral conducting, and music conducting. She has conducted choirs for many years, and beyond the choirs she founded during her studies at Jamk – Kipinät and Rytmihäiriö – her work has also included leading groups outside the Music Campus, such as the jazz choir at the Jyväskylä Adult Education Centre. Alongside her choral work, Kaisa has performed in numerous ensembles.
Kipinät is a successful choir. Its idea is to explore new musical concepts with an open mind. This curiosity and willingness to try new things has taken the choir far and brought choral music to wide audiences. Examples include their appearance on Talent Suomi and the chamber musical Minä rakastin yötä.
For Kaisa, the best part of working with choirs is the strong sense of community. It is meaningful to see choir members grow and gain confidence in what they do. As a choir conductor, she also supports singers who may be nervous about performing and watches their journey toward flourishing. Choir singing offers an environment where individuals can develop as singers while sharing collective achievements. "It's something truly special when people from different fields and backgrounds can come together as equals around the same passion, forgetting everyday life for a moment. It's wonderful!" Kaisa says.
If you're considering a career in music
A music pedagogue doesn't need one particular personality type or trait. What matters most, Kaisa emphasises, is a genuine interest in the field. There is no one recipe for the job, as work in the cultural sector is often highly varied. Curiosity and a desire to learn will carry you far, and as your studies progress, both experience and confidence grow. Kaisa highlights how important it is to have a diverse range of music pedagogues in the field, each bringing their own strengths.
Flexibility is especially useful in choral conducting. Performances take you to all kinds of venues, and the conductor must keep everything running smoothly. In the early stages of study, it's natural to feel nervous when dozens of eyes are following your every move. But training builds confidence, and over time you grow into the flexibility and responsiveness the role requires. "If you're interested in working in the field, you should absolutely apply to study music!" she encourages.
Read more about the Kipinät Choir at www.kipinatkuoro.fi
