Artists:Maria Kalaniemi

Maria Kalaniemi, a master of free-bass button accordion, is one of Finland's leading contemporary accordionists. Once a member of pioneering groups Niekku and Aldargaz, from the famed Sibelius Acdemy Folk Music Department, where she now teaches, her roots are in folk and classical music but her sights and abilities go far beyond existing styles. Technically brilliant as a player, and adept at improvisation, she is also a very powerful, intuitive and sensitive composer, with pieces that stylistically touch in numerous areas but feature her own personality as the driving force. Melody is the meaning and with Maria, listeners are sure to feel her message deeply.

Maria has released many albums, the latest is her solo album Bellow Poetry. She is also a member of the international accordion collective Accordion Tribe, Swedish-Finnish music group Ramunder, UNTO Tango Orchestra as well as many other projects. Maria has toured and performed with these groups and other projects throughout Europe, USA and in Canada.

Maria Kalaniemi, (b. 27, May 1964) is established in Finland and abroad, as one of the world’s most talented accordionists, not only as a technically skilled player but also as a gifted composer.

Maria’s specialty is the 5 row button accordion and she began playing at the age of eight. Her first real training was in classical music where she studied for eleven years. During these studies she developed an interest in traditional Finnish folk music and began working in that field, as well, performing solo and with fiddlers. The “double life of Maria” continued until 1983 when two major breakthroughs occurred.

Maria was voted winner of the Golden Accordion, a live nationally televised accordion competition. The direct result of this was the opportunity to record her first album, featuring, as in the competition, traditional Finnish dance tunes. The album was released by the Accordion Institute of Ikaalinen.

Secondly, Maria entered Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy and joined Heikki Laitinen’s newly established Folk Music Department. Soon after entering, she finished her classical training completely and devoted all her time and energies to folk music. More.