The next auditions will be held at TYL (Hallituskatu 30) 14.1.2026 and 21.1.2026.
At the audition, you'll perform a song of your choice by heart or with sheet music. In addition, we will assess your vocal range and sight reading skills. We expect new members to have solid sight reading skills and a good sense of pitch; classical vocal training is an advantage.
The choir membership fee is 80 euros per season (August to May) with the due date of October 31. The fee can be paid in two installments if needed, with the second payment due on December 31.
Rehearsals are held at TYL (Hallituskatu 30) on Wednesdays from 5:30 PM to 8:15 PM. Vocal warm-up begins at 5:30 PM. Additionally, there is one or two weekend rehearsals per season.
Please note that the language used in rehearsals is Finnish. However, you are welcome to sing in the choir even if your Finnish is only at a basic level!
Tampere Philharmonic Choir also provides a free childcare at weekly rehearsals.
To sign up for an audition, please fill out this form.
Tampere Philharmonic Choir
The Tampere Philharmonic Choir, founded in 1990, is a large mixed choir focusing mainly on major choral works with orchestra. Their most important partner is the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, with whom they perform 2–5 major works each year.
The choir has also performed with a number of other orchestras in Finland and abroad, e.g., the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Estonian Theatre, and the State Opera of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
In addition to famous choral works, the choir's repertoire has included less known works, such as the Belshazzar oratorio by Georg Friedrich Händel, Robert Schumann's Requiem (both of which were Finnish premieres), Uuno Klami's Psalmus and Einar Englund's Sixth Symphony.
The choir has made three recordings with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra: the premiere recording of Sibelius's Press Celebrations Music (ODE 913.2), which received three recording prizes; Einar Englund's Sixth Symphony (ODE 951-2), which received the national Janne Award of the IFPI in 2001; and the 3rd Symphony by George Enescu (ODE 1197-2).
Another important line of repertoire for the Tampere Philharmonic Choir are independent a cappella productions. A cappella concerts have played an important part in the shaping and development of the choir's sound. The first a cappella recording came out in spring of 2002.
The Tampere Philharmonic Choir has an active membership of about 90.
Artistic Directors
Photo: Ville Hautakangas
Artistic Director Ruut Kiiski
Ruut Kiiski graduated as a Master of Music in orchestral conducting from The Royal College of Music in Stockholm (2015), as a Master of Music in choir conducting from Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (2011), and as a Master of Music in church music in Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (2008).
Since then she has conducted several choirs and orchestras in Finland and Sweden. She has worked in several opera productions and taken part also master classes and awarded in competitions, e.g., in Paris, London and Budapest.
Choirmaster Jouni Rissanen
Jouni Rissanen graduated as a Master of Music from Sibelius Academy in music pedagogy in Helsinki (2011) and in music pedagogy in choir conducting from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki (2012).
Since 2011 Jouni Rissanen has been an Artistic Director of Pirkanpojat Boy Choir of Tampere Cathedral.
Assistant Director Sari Oksavuori
The assistant director Sari Oksavuori graduated as a church organist from Tampere Conservatory in 2001 and got a Master's degree in music from Sibelius Academy in 2005. She has studied choral conducting with teachers such as Timo Nuoranne, Jorma Hannikainen, Heikki Liimola, Seppo Murto and Kari Turunen and has a degree in choral conducting. She is also an accomplished church organist.
Presently Sari Oksavuori works as a church organist in Ylöjärvi Lutheran Church.