Schnéevoigt conducts the first concert for schoolchildren

According to Matti Vainio, the Helsinki City (Philharmonic) Orchestra (HPO) gave its first concert for schoolchildren on 11th February 1933. Conducted by Georg Schnéevoigt, it was a tremendous success and the tickets sold like hot cakes. It consisted of a brief introduction to the orchestra followed by such shortish concert pieces as Grieg’s Anitra’s Dance. The soloist was Väinö Hannikainen, who played the harp. A number of concerts for schoolchildren were held in 1933, and the press went into ecstasies. Their objective was seen as educating a new generation of concert-goers. Unfortunately, the concerts stopped short in 1934.

Not until Similä’s term as conductor in 1949 were the concerts resumed. The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra would later serve as a pioneer of orchestral music education and outreach in Finland, in the form of such initiatives as junior concerts and a godchild scheme.

Source: Einari Marvia & Matti Vainio – Helsingin kaupunginorkesteri 1882–1982