The final concert of Helsinki International Big Band Composing Contest will be held as a live stream concert from Savoy Theatre, Helsinki on Friday 4th of June, 2021, at 6 pm (UTC+2).

Watch for free at UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra’s YouTube channel or at Helsinkikanava.fi live or later. The on-demand can be watched at Helsinkikanava.fi until 18 June and at UMO Helsinki YouTube channel until 31 August.

The composing contest received a record number of compositions: a total of 76 composers from 22 countries and 4 continents. The composers and compositions which made it to the finals after two anonymous pre-qualification rounds are (in alphabetical order):

Robert Cozma (ROM/GER): Evening Walk
Claudia Döffinger (GER/AUT): Nachtwache
Gabriele di Franco (IT/BEL): Berlin
Daniel Hofecker (HUN): Mr S. G.
Tobias M. Hoffmann (GER/AUT): Conspiracy
Amelia Jutilane-Maynard (AUS/AUT): Isolation
Zach Rich (USA): Let Me Clarify
Oskari Siirtola (FIN): Dear Theo
Gordan Spasovski (MKD): Inner Nova
Drew Zaremba (USA): Cheshire

The UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra will play the compositions in the final concert with conductor Antti Rissanen.

The jury includes American composer and big band leader Bob Mintzer, composer and pianist Iro Haarla, UMO’s artistic director and chief conductor Ed Partyka and conductor Antti Rissanen. The first prize is 3000, second prize 2000 and third prize 1000 euros. The concert is hosted by Nina Mya.

The final concert will be produced in co-operation with UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, Finnish Big Band Association and Savoy Theatre.

Duration about 2,5–3 hours.

Rules of the contest

Photo: Heikki Kynsijärvi