Conductor

Kari Ala-Pöllänen

Like Erkki Pohjola, his predecessor as Conductor and Music Director of the Tapiola Choir, Kari Ala-Pöllänen is a school teacher by training. But he is also a multitalented musician who plays several instruments. He has worked as an orchestral musician and in the fields of folk music and jazz. He has conducted, sung in vocal groups, taught and written text books for schools. To add to all this, he has acted as Artistic Director of international choral festivals, been a juror for choral competitions and been active in training choral directors and singers.

Many of Ala-Pöllänen's choirs have achieved recognition at home and abroad. The best known in international circles is the Vox Aurea children's choir from Jyväskylä in central Finland. In 1994 he took over from Erkki Pohjola at the helm of the Tapiola Choir and in 1995 he was awarded the title of 'Choral Director of the Year' in Finland for his achievements in choral pedagogy.