Audience outreach

The UMO Helsinki Comic (only in Finnish and Swedish) is a fun introduction to the world of UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, jazz and big band music and an entertaining way to engage more with your live music experience.

Read the short comic illustrated by Christer Nuutinen here (in Finnish), here (in Swedish) and print out the concert doodle
sheet here.

A printed version of the comic can be purchased at selected UMO Helsinki concerts.

Further information and inquiries:
Henriika Steidel-Luoto
henriika@umohelsinki.fi
+358 40 411 3514

How are the rehearsals of a professional big band like? What kind of final touch-ups are made to the programme before the premiere?

Come and hear for yourself at UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra´s rehearsal hall at Helsinki’s Cable Factory. In UMO Helsinki´s open rehearsals you will witness how the programme gets crystallised and the orchestra’s sound unified. As the rehearsals are kept as authentic as possible, certain parts and passages may be honed a number of times. A conductor will also be present at the rehearsals, directing the orchestra toward the desired sound.

Open rehearsals are organised approximately eight times a year and they are free and open for all. Follow UMO Helsinki´s Facebook events and official website concert calendar and join us!

You can also inquire about special sessions for groups (of 30-60 persons), such as school classes.

Further information and inquiries:
Henriika Steidel-Luoto
henriika@umohelsinki.fi
+358 40 411 3514

Friends of UMO Helsinki is a group of people, businesses and non-profit associations that wish to be in a bit more closer terms with UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. Since its role will be modelled on the members’ wishes, as a Friend of UMO Helsinki you will get not only to brainstorm ideas but also realise them with the big band.

For more information, see the Friends of UMO Helsinki page here.

Further information and inquiries:
Henriika Steidel-Luoto
henriika@umohelsinki.fi
+358 40 411 3514

The Art Testers is a large-scale, nationwide cultural project organised by The Finnish Cultural Foundation, providing free art experiences to as many as 60 000 secondary school eight-graders. Taking part in the project many times since 2018, UMO Helsinki offered the students a chance to plunge into the world of big band music with programmes such as “Blue Notes on Silver Screen” and “Mikä Moog/mood muka?”. Before the concert the students were introduced to UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, jazz and big band music with the help of the UMO Helsinki Comic and concert doodle sheet.

Further information and inquiries:
Henriika Steidel-Luoto
henriika@umohelsinki.fi
+358 40 411 3514

Do you feel like going to a UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra concert but going alone gets you down or seems difficult? That is what Culture Companions are for! A Companion will book the tickets, help you to find your way to the location and accompany you to the concert.

In the company of a Culture Companion, you pay a maximum of 5 euros for your ticket. You can access the free events for free. The company and guidance of a Culture Companion friend is free.

HelsinkiMissio operates Cultural Companion activities in cooperation with the City of Helsinki and cultural actors.

How to book a Companion:

Choose an event from UMO’s concerts that you would like to attend with Culture Companion friend. Please note that we cannot offer tickets for every concert.

Call to HelsinkiMission 09 23120375 (callback service) and tell us the event you have chosen.

The friend will book the ticket and call you, you will agree where and when to meet.

More information (in Finnish only) >>

Welcome to our concert!

Further information and inquiries:
Niina Eeva
Marketing and Communications Manager
+358 (0)45 1477 655
niina@umohelsinki.fi

Businesses are invited to include UMO Helsinki in their corporate social responsibility activities. UMO Helsinki audience outreach activities involve children, adolescents, the elderly and special needs groups. A business may contribute to UMO Helsinki audience outreach work by becoming a regular sponsor or an event sponsor. UMO Helsinki is an innovative performing arts community with bold new initiatives and collaborations with sometimes unexpected partners.

”We wanted to try new ways to strengthen and deepen our corporate culture.”

Annukka Lalu
communications manager, Etera

What UMO Helsinki can offer businesses:

– Participation in activities aimed at specific target groups
– Customised short-term and long-term partnerships
– Opportunities for supporting music education in Finland
– Extensive experience in the field of music
– A reliable expert organisation

Examples of UMO Helsinki audience outreach activities:

– Concerts at schools and daycare centres
– Pedagogical and education projects, e.g. band mentoring
– Visits to service housing and care institutions
– Activities for senior citizens
– Charity benefits

Further information and inquiries:
Henriika Steidel-Luoto
henriika@umohelsinki.fi
+358 40 411 3514

The Music Factory is a music workshop project produced by UMO Helsinki for eight-graders studying at arts-oriented secondary schools in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Musician Aija Puurtinen, percussionist and expert of Brazilian music Sami Kontola, and saxophonist-conductor and UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra´s artistic partner in audience outreach, Ville Vannemaa, are in charge of the pedagogical offerings, teaching the students in composition, lyric-writing and rhyhmics. The project ends with a public concert where the students perform their own songs together with UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.

Further information and inquiries:
Henriika Steidel-Luoto
henriika@umohelsinki.fi
+358 40 411 3514

UMO Helsinki organises concerts and workshops for schoolchildren and students, from daycare up to upper secondary school. Focusing on music education aspects, the concerts are designed to introduce children and adolescents to the concept of a big band and the music that has been written for that ensemble for almost a century now. School visits also introduce young audience members to concert attendance practices and customs while supporting music teachers at schools in teaching the history of jazz, which is part of the curriculum.

A typical school visit week begins in the classroom, with the band introducing the pupils to the history of UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and how the orchestra operates. Also the sections and instruments of a big band are introduced as well as the improvisation. At the end of the school visit, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra gives a concert at full strength for the entire school, performing traditional big band works that the pupils are unlikely to hear anywhere else.

”The idea is to let them know that all this great music is out there and to provide them with the experience of hearing it performed live.”

Teemu Salminen
ex-saxofonist of UMO Helsinki

UMO Helsinki is available for school visits in the Greater Helsinki area by agreement, and elsewhere in the country too when on tour. Visits are customised to the needs of the hosts and are free of charge, although the hosts are welcome to make a voluntary donation towards the orchestra’s expenses.

Further information and inquiries:
Henriika Steidel-Luoto
henriika@umohelsinki.fi
+358 40 411 3514

Deeper into the Show (Fin. ”Enemmän irti esityksestä”) will be organised usually 45 minutes before those UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra concerts that are taking place at the cultural centres of the City of Helsinki (Vuotalo, Kanneltalo, Malmitalo) and at club venues Koko Jazz Club and G Livelab.

Notice that the event will be held in Finnish.

The events see the conductor, soloist or one of the orchestra’s members discuss the theme and background of the concert and answer the audience’s questions. The aim of the events is to offer the listeners a more in-depth concert experience.

Despite the fact that the afternoon concert programmes and schedules are designed specifically to suit senior citizens, all other ages are naturally as welcome to attend.

Further information and inquiries:
Henriika Steidel-Luoto
henriika@umohelsinki.fi
+358 40 411 3514

One form of audience outreach for UMO Helsinki is the prevention of social exclusion. In collaboration with our partners we will offer concert tickets to special groups, such as people with chronic diseases or limited means.

Our partners include the Finnish Association for Mental Health, the Central Association for Mental Health, the City of Helsinki Immigration Unit and the VAMOS Career Services and Alcohol Rehab Clinic of the Helsinki Deaconess Institute.

Further information and inquiries:
Henriika Steidel-Luoto
henriika@umohelsinki.fi
+358 40 411 3514

The purpose of visiting institutions is to bring live music to people who would otherwise not be able to enjoy it. Institutional visits take UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra to old people’s homes, hospitals and service housing for the elderly.

”It’s not about communicating anything in particular, just people spending a pleasant afternoon together.”

Jouni Järvelä
saxophonist, UMO Helsinki

UMO Helsinki is available for institutional visits in the Greater Helsinki area by agreement, and elsewhere in the country too when on tour. A typical concert lasts about 30 to 40 minutes and is free of charge for the hosts, although the hosts are welcome to make a voluntary donation towards the orchestra’s expenses. UMO always performs acoustically at institutions, with no electronic amplification.

Further information and inquiries:
Henriika Steidel-Luoto
henriika@umohelsinki.fi
+358 40 411 3514