In English
The Academic Choral Society (Akateeminen Laulu, AL), established in 1953, is the mixed voice choir of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki.
The Academic Choral Society celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2023. The theme of the anniversary year was “On Wings”, which refers to nature, birds, and also to music.
The Choir
At present, the performing strength is 40 singers. The singers are from different phases of academic life. What we all have in common is a great love for music and a wish to transform a musical hobby into art.
The Artistic Director of AL is Dominik Vogt.
The choir performs a cappella works by both Finnish and foreign composers as well as major orchestral works, usually in collaboration with other choirs. Our repertoire includes sacral and profane, serious and fun music from the Renaissance to the present day.
On request AL also performs in smaller groups, e.g. quartets, in different occasions.
Rehearsals and auditioning
Would you like to find a smart way to spend you leisure time and make new friends? Join a choir! We arrange auditions in the beginning of autumn and spring periods.
Contact al.sihteeri(a)gmail.com to ask for an audition.
AL rehearses every Thursday at 18–21 in central Helsinki at Meritullintori 3. The main rehearsal language is English.
Warmly Welcome!
Contact us
The Academic Choral Society (Akateeminen Laulu, AL)
e-mail al.puheenjohtaja(a)gmail.com
On Wings - Anniversary Concert in 2023
The 70th jubilee of Akateeminen Laulu culminated in the ”On Wings” anniversary concert on Saturday 11th November 2023 in the Helsinki University Great Hall (Unioninkatu 34, Helsinki).
The program of the anniversary concert brought together the theme of the year, which is birds, nature and diversity. Birdsong is often associated with hope, peace, freedom and renewal - but also with sadness at the loss of species. We want to highlight the uniqueness of nature.
The festive concert included Finnish and international choral music gems, in which the themes of nature are present. There were songs from the choir's past years and present repertoire. We also performed commissioned works by a choir director and composer Teemu Tommola, and by one of the choralists, musician Juho Leppänen. Their songs bring a fresh and insightful perspective, exploring not only the familiar romantic images of birds and nature, but also the impact of humanity on our precious planet. In addition, the program of the anniversary concert included the wonderful 15-minute piece The Lark Ascending for choir and violin by the British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958).
In between the songs, there were short scientific speeches deepening the theme. Also the patroness of the anniversary year, Saara Kankaanrinta, known as a defender of the environment and the Baltic Sea, brought her greetings to the audience.
The concert was conducted by Dominik Vogt, the artistic director of Akateeminen Laulu.
