Hämäläis-Osakunnan Laulajat

Hämäläis-Osakunnan Laulajat, also known as the HOL Choir, is a mixed choir of about 30 singers. It is known for combining ambitious singing to constant merry-making. Most of its singers are students at the University of Helsinki, and many come from the region of Häme, hence the name of the choir. HOL is a musical home for many international students as well. Since the year 2000, the director of the choir has been Esko Kallio. Under his leadership, the choir has reached a high artistic level, recognised with three golden stamps at the Tampere Vocal Music Festival’s Chorus Review in 2009.

HOL was established in 1929, which makes it the oldest mixed student choir in Finland. In recent years HOL has been in close co-operation with young composers Alex Freeman from the USA and Matthew Whittall from Canada, who both have studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. Being members of the choir, they have dedicated a number of outstanding modern choral compositions to HOL. Some of this music was published in 2009 on a CD called Lehdellä – Among the leaves. This CD was praised by the critics and rewarded with the title Finnish Choral Album of the Year. It was also nominated as a candidate for the Finnish Classical Album of the Year.

If you would like to join the choir (usually in the beginning of terms), to book a quartet, or to know more about HOL in general, contact hol-litus(at)helsinki.fi

Or,

Hämäläis-Osakunnan Laulajat
Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6 D
00100 Helsinki
Finland