The Finnish Choral Society of Seattle
   

Since 1963, the Finnish Choral Society of Seattle has brought people together through a shared love of music, language, and Finnish culture. Our singers range from teens to adults in their 90s, and come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some have Finnish roots, some have lived or traveled in Finland, and some simply love Finnish music and language and want to sing it.

You don't have to be Finnish to join us! What brings us together is curiosity, enthusiasm, and the joy of singing.

What do we sing?

Finnish music is at the heart of what we do—from traditional folk songs and patriotic favorites to sacred music, contemporary works, and the occasional quirky or humorous piece. We also sing in other languages including Swedish, English, Estonian, and Latin.

Our music takes us all over the Seattle area and beyond. We perform at Finnish and Nordic community celebrations, church services, the National Nordic Museum, retirement communities, festivals, holiday programs, and other gatherings throughout the year.

One of our longest-running traditions is our annual Kalevala Day celebration, which we have presented since 1976. In 2026, we celebrated our 50th Kalevala Day—a milestone in a tradition that has become part of Seattle's Finnish cultural life.

A little history

The choir's roots go back to 1963, when a group called Kaleva Chorus was formed in Seattle. After merging with the Seattle chapter of the West Coast Singers in the 1970s, the Finnish Choral Society name was established around 1980. For more than six decades, the choir has helped keep Finnish choral music alive and shared it with audiences throughout the Pacific Northwest.

We've even taken our music back to Finland. On our 2012 tour, we performed in six venues, including Helsinki's beautiful Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church). Closer to home, we've performed at Benaroya Hall as part of celebrations marking both the 150th anniversary of Jean Sibelius's birth and Finland's 100th anniversary of independence.

Come sing with us!

Whether you're deeply connected to Finland, just discovering Finnish music or language, or simply looking for a welcoming group to sing with, we'd love to have you.

New singers are always welcome!

Rehearsals

Tuesdays at 7:00 PM & Sundays at 12:00pm (email us for a rehearsal schedule)
Finnish Lutheran Church
8504 13th Avenue NW, Seattle

Rehearsals are in person and on Zoom, so you can join us from the church or from home.

For more information or to join, please contact our music director:

Maria Männistö - mhmannisto@gmail.com