Kantele Concert presented by Wilho Saari

by CPHM

The artists in the exhibit WORKING WITH TRADITION: FOLK ARTISTS OF WASHINGTON STATE have all been associated with the WSAC folk art program. Our region is represented by Wilho Saari of Naselle, Washington, who is a kantele player in the tradition of his Finnish ancestors. He will present a kantele concert during the exhibition opening on Friday May 18 from 5 – 7pm at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, 115 SE Lake St., Ilwaco, WA. The exhibition will run until July29th.

Wilho Saari

Saari has a wide knowledge of the history of the kantele, as well as a sincere commitment to many other aspects of Finnish folklore. The kantele is a wooden stringed instrument usually played on the lap or on a table. It generally has from 15 to 40 metal strings and produces a harp or bell like sound. Saari is the recipient of the Governor’s Heritage Award in 2005 and was bestowed the nation’s highest award for traditional arts when he received a 2007 NEA National Heritage Fellowship.