On Saturday, 3 October, Haapavesi hosted a unique musical event as the Air Kantele World Championships brought together competitors, audiences and admirers of kantele music.
The event was organised by the City of Haapavesi, the Oulu2026 Event Coordination Project of the Haapavesi-Siikalatva region, and the Finnish Kantele Association.
The competition featured imaginative, bold and often delightfully entertaining air kantele performances across several age categories. The jury consisted of internationally acclaimed singer and kantele player Ida Elina, musician and kantele artist Aurora Visa, and kantele artist and music educator Riikka Yli-Kotila. The event was hosted by Oulu-based magician Elias Kvist, who also entertained the audience with an intermission show.
Winners in Different Categories
In the youngest category, for participants aged 7-9, the title went to Saunatonttu Aleksandra. Her prize was a gift card to the string instrument shop Jousisoitin P. Suhkonen, donated by the North Ostrobothnia EU Information Point.
The winner of the 10-13 age category was Leila Kantele, who received a money prize.
The adult category delivered an exceptionally exciting finale. After the main competition, two contestants finished with an equal score. Both performers were invited to present an additional piece, after which the jury decided to share both the championship title and the €300 prize equally between them. The winners were Freddie-Marie Curie (Anna-Kaisa Kettunen) and Stonehenge (Lloyd Weema), both familiar names from the world of air guitar.
At the end of the competition, all participants gathered on stage to perform The Final Countdown on their air kanteles. The moment perfectly captured the spirit of the evening and the entire event: the joy of creating together, the courage to throw oneself into the experience, and the unifying power of music.
The Evening Continued with a Concert
Following the competition, audiences enjoyed a free concert featuring performances by members of the jury, as well as Jane Ilmola & Three Rivers Kantele Ensemble and Riikka Yli-Kotila & Kaarna.
The event attracted nearly 200 visitors throughout the evening, positively surprising the organisers. The warm reception suggests strong potential for the Air Kantele World Championships to grow into a new annual tradition in Haapavesi.
The Air Kantele World Championships provides an excellent example of how low-threshold cultural experiences can support the goals of the Oulu2026 program by increasing participation, strengthening community spirit, and improving access to culture across the region. The event demonstrated that experiencing, creating and enjoying culture belongs to everyone. At its best, culture builds bridges between people and creates connections that transcend generations and municipal borders.
Text: Hanna Hautala
Oulu2026 Event Coordination Project
