Master's Program in Classical Music Performance (Kantele)
University of the Arts Helsinki
About this program
Master's Program in Classical Music Performance (Kantele)
Study to become a top-level kantele professional of classical and contemporary music in the leading program in its field.
As a master's student, you will have the option to choose courses more freely, and you can also choose courses organised by the other two academies of the University. You can complement your degree by completing courses in jazz, folk music and early music, as well as in composition and arrangement.
Scholarships & funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Program delivery
The languages of instruction for this program are English, Finnish and Swedish.
Tuition
Annual tuition fee €5,000 for students studying in English and coming from outside the EU and EEA countries.
Qualification
Content and Objective of the Program
The flexible curriculum caters to individual interests and aims at providing students with wide expertise and top-level mastery of the instrument. You will have the chance to grow into a professional with your own strong artistic vision.
The kantele major focuses on versatile soloist studies, spanning different eras and genres as well as the development of extensive pedagogical skills. In your studies, you will also learn more about chamber music, free accompaniment and improvisation, ergonomics when playing, as well as the history and modern state of kantele. The program gives you the opportunity to work with composers and composition students and learn about how to incorporate electric kantele and music technology in your music. You will also become acquainted with the structure and maintenance of kantele.
Continuing studies
It is possible to complete a licentiate and a doctoral degree at the University as a third-cycle degree. After graduating with a masters degree, you will have the option to apply for doctoral studies in music and specialise in research-oriented, artistic or applied doctoral studies.
Career paths
After graduating as a professional kantele player specialising in classical music, you can work as a soloist, chamber musician or kantele teacher, or alternatively in other jobs that require expertise in music and the arts.
About this institute

University of the Arts Helsinki
The University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki) offers the highest education in fine arts, music, dance and theatre in an inspiring multidisciplinary environment. Uniarts Helsinki’s wide selection of programs in the field of arts and productive dialogue between teaching...
Why study at University of the Arts Helsinki
- The University of the Arts is one of the leading performing arts universities in the world: Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy has ranked among the top 26 universities in the QS World University Ranking for five consecutive years (2016–2023).
- We have unique facilities for creating arts with two campuses in Helsinki and a new building for fine arts which was opened in 2021. The facilities are in the use of the Academy of Fine Arts as well as students of light design, sound design, and design for the performing arts. We host over 1,000 public performances or exhibitions per year.
- At Uniarts Helsinki you can study in an inspiring environment where different disciplines of art influence each other. The academies of Uniarts Helsinki;Academy of Fine Arts, Theatre Academy and Sibelius Academy, have roots deep within the Finnish arts education and history of art. The predecessors of all three academies were founded in the 19th century although then they operated under slightly different names.
- The Academy of Fine Arts of Uniarts Helsinki is an international academy with a focus on fine arts. Students' personal aspirations and one-to-one guidance in teaching are at the heart of the academy.
- The Sibelius Academy of Uniarts Helsinki is one of the largest music academies in Europe. It is the cornerstone of the Finnish music culture through its expertise in teaching, research and artistic activities.
- The Theatre Academy of Uniarts Helsinki is a reformer of the performing arts and offer the highest education in theatre, dance and writing in Finland.