Biography of Kilven Kuoro

Kilven Kuoro, founded in 1913, is a joyful and ambitious mixed choir from Helsinki, Finland. The choir has about 50 active members with a passion for music. Many choir members are also active in small choral ensembles.

The choir has an unprejudiced policy in its repertoire with regard to style and era. Examples are the two Cantama albums in 2007 and 2011. At the celebration of 100th anniversary in 2013, the choir premiered made to order choral series Kerro minulle composed by Kaj-Erik Gustafsson. For many years, Kilven Kuoro’s trademark has been Valoa! (trans. Light!) Christmas concerts in Uspenski Cathedral, and in 2015 the choir published a Christmas album Joulun Valoa! (trans. Christmas Light!).

Over the years Kilven Kuoro has participated in many international choir competitions and chorus reviews. The choir has recieved positive feedback for it’s choices of repertoire and emotional expression. In 2014 the choir got a special prize for Outstanding Performance in Vienna Sing ‘n Joy choir competition for its interpretation of Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s Four Shakespeare Songs: Double, double, toil and trouble.

Hanna Remes (b. 1973) is the first female musical director of the choir. She has accomplished two Master of Music degrees at the Sibelius Academy: one in Church and Organ Music (year 2001) and the other in Conducting (year 2006). At present, she is working on her doctoral dissertation at DocMus Doctoral School of the Sibelius Academy’s Faculty of Classical Music, University of the Arts Helsinki.