Espoon seurakuntayhtymä

Number of applicants for music grants is increasing – Espoo parishes awarded grants for 2026

10.4.2026 09:50:54 EEST | Espoon seurakuntayhtymä | Press release

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The Espoo Parish Union annually awards music grants for spiritual music projects in Espoo. In 2026, a total of €24,000 in grants was awarded. This year, the grant application criteria emphasised multicultural music projects. 

Espoo parishes have been awarding music grants for years. Last year, for example, Julia Tamminen (pictured) received a grant for the Peace and Music Across Borders concert. In summer 2025, she and Oleg Sytienko performed works by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk on flute and piano at Leppävaara Church.
Espoo parishes have been awarding music grants for years. Last year, for example, Julia Tamminen (pictured) received a grant for the Peace and Music Across Borders concert. In summer 2025, she and Oleg Sytienko performed works by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk on flute and piano at Leppävaara Church. Photo: Ville Paasimaa

In 2026, Espoo parishes will support multicultural and spiritual music events as well as music performances in hospitals and nursing homes, for example. Grants also enable various concerts all around Espoo.

The application period ended on 1 March 2026. By the deadline, 35 applications were received, and 12 applicants were awarded a grant. The previous application round in 2025 attracted 28 applications.

“I was delighted with the number of applications. We also received applications from foreign-language speakers for multicultural projects,” says Katja Kangas, a community and church musician at the Espoo Parish Union.

Grants for spiritual music projects 2026

Espoo parishes decided to award a total of €24,000 in grants for spiritual music projects as follows:

  • Adeshina Omotola David: €1,500 for two multicultural and spiritual music events

  • Baroque ensemble All'Improvviso: €2,000 for participatory concert activities

  • Cantores Minores Support Association: €3,500 for training activities and the expenses of Espoo choir members

  • Dominante ry: €2,000 for J.S. Bach’s St John Passion concert

  • Duo Lumottaret: €1,500 for four spiritual music concerts in palliative care units at Espoo Hospital

  • Espoon barokki ry: €2,500 for a joint concert with Key Ensemble

  • Jaakko Pirkola and Otso Kallio: €1,000 for five hospital, assisted living and nursing home performances

  • Kirsi-Marja Nevamäki-Karri: €2,000 for organising musical performances for seniors together with young music and drama students

  • Lauluyhdistys Versio ry: €1,500 for the “Renaissance masters Josquin des Prez and Heinrich Isaac in dialogue” concert

  • Finnish White Ribbon Association: €3,000 for culturally diverse music activities
     
  • Xiaoyun Amber Jin: €1,500 for the “Mandarin Mass” project
     
  • Yahya Sonko: €2,000, to create and present a multicultural spiritual music project

The grant recipients are required to submit a report on the use of the grant by 30 June 2027 or before applying for any additional grants.

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church in espooespooevangelical lutheran churchmusicmusic grants

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Espoo parishes have been awarding music grants for years. Last year, for example, Julia Tamminen (pictured) received a grant for the Peace and Music Across Borders concert. In summer 2025, she and Oleg Sytienko performed works by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk on flute and piano at Leppävaara Church.
Espoo parishes have been awarding music grants for years. Last year, for example, Julia Tamminen (pictured) received a grant for the Peace and Music Across Borders concert. In summer 2025, she and Oleg Sytienko performed works by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk on flute and piano at Leppävaara Church.
Photo: Ville Paasimaa
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Espoo Parish Union

Espoon tuomiokirkkoseurakunta, Espoonlahden seurakunta, Leppävaaran seurakunta, Olarin seurakunta, Tapiolan seurakunta and Esbo svenska församling form together Espoon Parish Union. There is altogether 154 644 members and approximately 500 employees in the parishes.

Church in Espoo - Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

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