The same year, Ritva Koistinen became the second kantele artist after Ulla Katajavuori to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York.
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Olga Shishkina is the first foreigner who graduated as a Master of Music in Finnish kantele from Sibelius Academy.
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Besides Ritva Koistinen, among the many artists playing the Koistinen concert series are Timo Väänänen, Eva Alkula, Eija Kankaanranta, and Senni Eskelinen.
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Hedi Viisma on sales is the first chromatic kantele player studying for a Doctorate of Music at Sibelius Academy.
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Later, Ritva Koistinen became the first traditional playing lecturer in Finland at the Joensuu Music Institute, and in 1987, she founded the solo kantele department at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
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Otto’s daughter Ritva Koistinen started to play kantele at an early age and demonstrated a high level of musical talent, motivating Otto to build higher quality instruments.
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Officially founded in 2000, its history dates back to 1957, when Otto Koistinen built his first kanteles.
Ritva Koistinen | Otto Koistinen | Koistinen Kantele | Hannu Koistinen |
Otto's son Hannu Koistinen started to build kanteles with his father at the age of seven and later continued to develop the instrument and preserve family tradition by establishing Koistinen Kantele company.