The Finnish American Folk Festival of Naselle is enthusiastic about our very own . . .

Naselle Kanteles

Playing the kantele is a family tradition that all three of these players trace to Kaustinen, Finland, where their direct ancestor Kreeta Hapasalo popularized the kantele in the 1800s. Naselle Kantele players consist of Wilho Saari, his sister May, and his daughter Karen.

Karen Saari Nelson took kantele lessons from her father as part of his master apprenticeship program from Washington State Arts Commission. Karen graduated in music education and teaches in Naselle schools as well as gives private lessons. (Her husband, Greg Nelson, makes kanteles, which he has sold at past festivals. He also teaches in the Naselle School District.)

Wilho Saari plays, composes, and teaches, and is often on the road to concerts, festivals, churches, weddings and funerals, birthday and anniversary parties. He was chosen as a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, one of only eleven awarded nationally. He continues to participate with Northwest kantele groups and is a willing and fascinating instructor for our young people who have a chance to learn the kantele and participate in the group, the Kantele Kids.

For more information, consult the entry on Wilho on Wikipedia.

May Saari Adair plays piano in a flowing manner at her church and home, teaches piano, and began playing kantele shortly after her brother Wilho did in 1983. She says when she and Wilho were growing up in their musical family, they used to compete to see who could make it to the piano bench first to play. Now they join forces to play beautiful music together.

May is also the genealogist for not only Naselle Finnish-Americans but for a wide swath of people across the country and into Finland. The connections she has fostered between families and over the ocean make not only a wonderful map for the genealogy chart of our festival and the computer lay-out, but also changes lives for people, forging connections far beyond her own family circle to a truly world-wide network.

More music at the festival: finnam.naselle.net/2008/music/.