Tempo-Orchestras and Choirs
Tempo Orchestra’s work is based on the El Sistema music education method, which aims to strengthen the bonds of friendship between children from diverse backgrounds through making music together.
The Tempo Orchestra performed in Ruoholahti at the "Yhteinen maailma" concert in 2016. Juha Ahvenainen conducts.
Tempo Orchestra offers children a free opportunity to take up music – regardless of their background, on an equal footing and without entrance exams. The Tempo Orchestra is also an easy way to get started with music because the activities take place in a familiar school environment. The orchestras and choirs perform regularly, and new pupils are involved in these performances from a very early stage.
In the 2026–2027 academic year, Tempo orchestras will be running at Kytöpuisto, Lehtikuusi, Rajakylä, Uomarinteen, Dickursby, Jokiniemi and Länsimäki schools. Four of these schools also offer the option of choosing the Tempo orchestra as an optional subject. The orchestras are primarily intended for pupils of these schools, but where possible, musicians from other schools in the area may also be accepted into the orchestras. The Tempo orchestras are made up of pupils of second and third class, and the ensembles play together for two years, after which they can continue playing together as part of the school’s optional orchestra course.
Dickursby School’s Tempo Orchestra is Finland’s first and olny Swedish-speaking Tempo Orchestra. The new orchestra in Dickursby will launch at the start of 2027, provided that project funding is secured in the autumn.
Tempo Choirs
Tempo choirs operate at Jokiniemi, Kytöpuisto and Rajakylä schools. Children in Years 1 to 6 are welcome to join the choirs. The choirs rehearse after school. The choirs perform at Tempo family evenings and school events. The choirs have their own spring event and also perform at city events as a larger combined choir and alongside orchestras.
The Call of Art – Advancing Equity and Accessibility in Cultural Education Plans
Between 2026 and 2028, the Tempo Orchestra will be taking part in a project run by the Children’s Cultural Association, which aims to improve opportunities for children and young people to participate in cultural activities. Tempo will organise Tempo Orchestra workshops in schools, based on the Annantalo 5x2 model, where participants can play in an orchestra without any prior musical experience. Those taking part in the music workshops will have the opportunity to perform at the TempoTempaus event to be held in May 2027.
TempoTempaus 2027 -event
The second national TempoTempaus event will take place on 21 May. Tempo groups from all over Finland will be taking part in the event. The international guest will be Leer-Orkest from the Netherlands. There will be two concerts during the day, as well as a panel discussion on the ESR+ project between the concerts.
Learn more about Tempo Orchestra activities by watching the video below.
The same video is available interpreted into four different languages. The original video is in Finnish with English subtitles.