Martin Wegelius memorial foundation awards 32 recognition grants
The Martin Wegelius Memorial Foundation has awarded 32 recognition grants in the amount of 5.000 euros. The grants have been awarded without an application, as an incentive for music studies and artistic work. The grant recipients in 2023 are:
Andreas Anthopoulos, Bassoon
Hung-Yu Chen, Saxophone
Yoann Combémorell, Conducting
Lucia Castillo Gutiérrez, Oboe
Maj Frondelius, Harp
Tal Gottdiner, Clarinet
Nils Hansson, Piano
Marjana Jocif, Recorder
Essi Kettunen, Violin
Airi Koivukoski, Violin pedagogy, lifework award
Erle Kont, Conducting
Julia Leskinen, French horn
Ilona Liiman, Piano
Bruno Lima, Cello
Saima Malmivaara, Cello
Akseli Mattila, Voice
Jarmo Niininen, Percussion
Elisa Nokelainen, Violin
Þorkell Nordal, Composition
Sadaeja Oh, Piano
Enna Puhakka, Flute
Nikolai Pryganov, Clarinet
Isabella Pätiälä, Piano
Leonardo Rojnic, Accordion
Albert Sahlström, Violin
Otso Sipilä, Voice
Teuvo Taimioja, Guitar
Johanna Takalo, Voice
Miika Törmä, Trombone
Tara Valkonen, Composition
Lied Duo Emma Hartikainen and Tanja Niiranen
Trio Kumaus: Lauri Pekkarinen, Helka Seppälä and Janne Valkeajoki
Martin Wegelius (1846-1906) is a prominent figure in Finnish music education. He founded the predecessor of the Sibelius Academy, the Helsinki School of Music, in 1882 and served as director of the institution and as a teacher of music theory.
After the death of Martin Wegelius in March 1906, his students and friends collected funds to establish a fund in memory of Wegelius and to financially support his widow, Hanna Wegelius. With the collected funds, a fund called the memory of Martin Wegelius (Fonden Martin Wegelius´ minne) was established. With part of the collected funds, the fund bought the Vikan property from Hanna Wegelius. After Wegelius’ widow died in November 1906, Vikan served as a rest home for musicians.
Martin Wegeliuksen muisto – Martin Wegelius´ minne foundation was founded in 1931. The foundation continued the operation of the fund. According to the rules of 1931, the purpose of the foundation was to maintain Villa Vikan as a recreation home for musicians. The foundation sold the property in 1944 and with the proceeds from the sale, a (new) basic capital was formed for the foundation. The foundation’s current rules state that the purpose of the foundation, at the discretion of its board, is to distribute grants for recreational vacations or studies to composers, music teachers and students working in Finland.