The president has granted master of music Kaija Viitasalo the honorary title of Music Counsellor (fin. “musiikkineuvos”) on 11 December 2015. Viitasalo’s achievements as an award-winning choral conductor, pioneering figure in the field of women’s choral music and versatile music pedagogue were seen strongly in her favour.
Most notable work as a music teacher, teacher trainer and music education Viitasalo has done as a music lector in the Viikki Teacher Training School of the University of Helsinki – a post that she has held since 1989. On a national level she has worked to further the role of music education through the association Koulujen Musiikinopettajat ry. In addition to her main occupation, she has made a career as a choral conductor, her principal instrument having been the women’s choir KYN for the past 25 years. Also, she has been a notable figure in the Suomen naiskuoroliitto (Finnish Women’s Choir Association).
Viitasalo has led KYN to the elite of not only Finnish but international choir scene. Under her direction, KYN won a gold medal in the category for women’s choirs in the World Choir Games in 2014 and been rewarded three gold stamps in the international Chorus Review at Tampere Vocal Music Festival in 2011.
Through KYN, Viitasalo has reformed the women’s choir as an instrument and, by introducing jazz and so-called ethnic jazz to KYN’s programme, she has extended the repertory available for Finnish women’s choirs. Ethnic jazz is a genre pioneered by KYN, which combines traditional Finnish melodic elements and lyrics with the rhythm and harmony of jazz.
The unique original programme penned and commissioned for KYN by Viitasalo and the choir’s subtle expression and timbre has earned them acclaim not both in their home country and abroad. In addition to international events of choral music organised in Finland, KYN has performed as the main act at international festivals in Taiwan, France and Latvia in recent years.
In March 2014 Suomen Naiskuoroliitto (The Finnish Women’s Choir Association) rewarded KYN and Viitasalo for breaking ground for new kind of women’s choral music and performing it outside Finland. As a choral conductor, Viitasalo has been awarded with YLE’s special prize at the Klemetti competition in 2002 and at Tampere Vocal Music Festival with a special prize for conductors in 2011. In March 2015 she received a silver medal from Suomen Naiskuoroliitto.
Counsellor of Music (musiikkineuvos) is a honorary title granted by the President of the Republic of Finland for exceptional and long-standing contributions in the field of music.