The Responsibility of the Artist: Resistance, Otherness, Exile 1926–2026 Colloquium
The theme of the colloquium is the consequences of totalitarianism for people and music communities through research and art (music), with a special focus on the Holocaust and Russian/Soviet totalitarianism, which has taken on new forms in the 2020s.
Two-day international scientific colloquium
In 21 – 22 September 2026 a two-day international scientific colloquium in Music Centre Helsinki will take place to provide viewpoints on questions of Music, Memory and European Values (MMEV) project themes. In the project, funded by the European Commission Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, University of the Arts Helsinki Sibelius Academy’s theme is The Responsibility of the Artist: Resistance, Otherness, Exile 1926–2026. The project examines the consequences of totalitarianism for people and music communities through research and art (music), with a special focus on the Holocaust and Russian/Soviet totalitarianism, which has taken on new forms in the 2020s.
The invited speakers of the two-day Colloquium will include Henrik Rosengren (Lund University), Susanna Välimäki (University of Helsinki), Simo Muir, Oana Andreic (The Gheorghe Dima National Academy of Music), Dario Martinelli (Kaunas University of Technology), Jean-Marie Jacono (Aix-Marseille Université) and Elaine Kelly (University of Edinburgh).
Masterclass by Keval Shah
The event also consists of a Masterclass in 21 – 22 September 2026 led by lecturer Keval Shah from University of the Arts Helsinki Sibelius Academy and Irène Kudela (pianist and vocal coach). The participants of the Masterclass will be Sibelius Academy advanced students from the Vocal Music department. The Masterclass will be arranged in the Camerata Hall.
Concerts and venues
Both colloquium days are concluded with the concerts. On Monday, the there will be arranged the lecture recital concert, and the closing concert will be arranged on Tuesday.
The colloquium will take place in the Music Centre’s auditorium, and the Masterclass and concerts will be arranged in the Camerata Hall.
Programme on Monday 21 September 2026
Venue: Auditorium
11.00 – 12.00 Arrival and coffee
12.00 – 12.30 Welcome and introduction of the project by Thomas Tacquet and Camille Gerbaud (Forum Foix Etouffées)
12.30 – 13.30 Henrik Rosengren (Lund University): Sven-David Sandström and Tobias Berggren’s requiem De ur alla minnen fallna as an expression of Holocaust memory culture. A multiscalar perspective
13.30 – 14.45 Lunch break
14.45 – 15.30 Susanna Välimäki (University of Helsinki): Genocide and Music
15.30 – 16.15 Simo Muir: Representation of Holocaust Trauma and Emotional Reception in Yiddish Musical Performances in Sweden and Finland, 1945–1950
16.15 – 17.00 Oana Andreica (The Gheorghe Dima National Academy of Music): Topoi of Nostalgia in Romanian Contemporary Music
18.00 – 19.00
Venue: Auditorium
Lecture recital presentations
Programme on Tuesday 22 September 2026
Venue: Auditorium
10.00 – 11.00 Dario Martinelli (Kaunas University of Technology): The subtle resistance of jazz during Italian fascism in the 1930’s and 1940’s
11.00 – 12.00 Jean-Marie Jacono (Aix-Marseille Université): Songs against Le Pen’s neofascist party in France (1983-2022): towards a typology of lyrics and music
12.00 – 13.15 Lunch break
13.15 – 14.00 Elaine Kelly (University of Edinburgh): Ambiguous Resistance: Music and Anti-Imperial Solidarity in East Germany
14.00–14.45 Panel discussion and closing of the event
Moderator Anne Kauppala (University of the Arts Helsinki)
14.45- 15.30 Coffee
18.00
Venue: Camerata
Concert
- Erminie Blondel, soprano
- Thomas Tacquet, piano
- Anne Piirainen, clarinet
Sibelius Academy students and MasterClass’s participants (responsible teacher Keval Shah)
Registration
The organizers welcome everyone interested, and attendance is free of charge. Pre-registration is required. The language of the event is English.
The pre-registration form will be published in May 2026.
Two-day international scientific colloquium
In 21 – 22 September 2026 a two-day international scientific colloquium in Music Centre Helsinki will take place to provide viewpoints on questions of Music, Memory and European Values (MMEV) project themes. In the project, funded by the European Commission Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, University of the Arts Helsinki Sibelius Academy’s theme is The Responsibility of the Artist: Resistance, Otherness, Exile 1926–2026. The project examines the consequences of totalitarianism for people and music communities through research and art (music), with a special focus on the Holocaust and Russian/Soviet totalitarianism, which has taken on new forms in the 2020s.
The invited speakers of the two-day Colloquium will include Henrik Rosengren (Lund University), Susanna Välimäki (University of Helsinki), Simo Muir, Oana Andreic (The Gheorghe Dima National Academy of Music), Dario Martinelli (Kaunas University of Technology), Jean-Marie Jacono (Aix-Marseille Université) and Elaine Kelly (University of Edinburgh).
Masterclass by Keval Shah
The event also consists of a Masterclass in 21 – 22 September 2026 led by lecturer Keval Shah from University of the Arts Helsinki Sibelius Academy and Irène Kudela (pianist and vocal coach). The participants of the Masterclass will be Sibelius Academy advanced students from the Vocal Music department. The Masterclass will be arranged in the Camerata Hall.
Concerts and venues
Both colloquium days are concluded with the concerts. On Monday, the there will be arranged the lecture recital concert, and the closing concert will be arranged on Tuesday.
The colloquium will take place in the Music Centre’s auditorium, and the Masterclass and concerts will be arranged in the Camerata Hall.
Programme on Monday 21 September 2026
Venue: Auditorium
11.00 – 12.00 Arrival and coffee
12.00 – 12.30 Welcome and introduction of the project by Thomas Tacquet and Camille Gerbaud (Forum Foix Etouffées)
12.30 – 13.30 Henrik Rosengren (Lund University): Sven-David Sandström and Tobias Berggren’s requiem De ur alla minnen fallna as an expression of Holocaust memory culture. A multiscalar perspective
13.30 – 14.45 Lunch break
14.45 – 15.30 Susanna Välimäki (University of Helsinki): Genocide and Music
15.30 – 16.15 Simo Muir: Representation of Holocaust Trauma and Emotional Reception in Yiddish Musical Performances in Sweden and Finland, 1945–1950
16.15 – 17.00 Oana Andreica (The Gheorghe Dima National Academy of Music): Topoi of Nostalgia in Romanian Contemporary Music
18.00 – 19.00
Venue: Auditorium
Lecture recital presentations
Programme on Tuesday 22 September 2026
Venue: Auditorium
10.00 – 11.00 Dario Martinelli (Kaunas University of Technology): The subtle resistance of jazz during Italian fascism in the 1930’s and 1940’s
11.00 – 12.00 Jean-Marie Jacono (Aix-Marseille Université): Songs against Le Pen’s neofascist party in France (1983-2022): towards a typology of lyrics and music
12.00 – 13.15 Lunch break
13.15 – 14.00 Elaine Kelly (University of Edinburgh): Ambiguous Resistance: Music and Anti-Imperial Solidarity in East Germany
14.00–14.45 Panel discussion and closing of the event
Moderator Anne Kauppala (University of the Arts Helsinki)
14.45- 15.30 Coffee
18.00
Venue: Camerata
Concert
- Erminie Blondel, soprano
- Thomas Tacquet, piano
- Anne Piirainen, clarinet
Sibelius Academy students and MasterClass’s participants (responsible teacher Keval Shah)
Registration
The organizers welcome everyone interested, and attendance is free of charge. Pre-registration is required. The language of the event is English.
The pre-registration form will be published in May 2026.