Konsta Jylhä Competition 2025

Folk music competition for small ensembles

7.-8.7.2025 Pelimannitalo, Kaustinen

Since 2010, The Folk Music Institute and Pelimannitalo (The Fiddlers' House) have arranged the Konsta Jylhä Competition of folk music. The competition's theme varies from year to year, and its finals take place during the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival.

Competition rules 2025

• The music to be performed consist of compositions by Konsta Jylhä, either instrumentals and/or songs with lyrics written for them.
• The competition has one series. No age limits.
• The competition is national. The participants must live in Finland.
• The participating group must consist of 2-4 members. The instrumentation is free.
• One person can participate in only one group in the competition.
• All performances are acoustic, but an individual instrument can be amplified to secure the sound level balance.

Pre-selection is based on a sample recording. To enter the competition, please fill in the entry form.

An mp3 recording with 5-10 mins music must be attached, maximum file size 8 Mb.

The enrolment file must include information on every member of the group. The enrolment deadline is 22.5.

Max. 10 groups are elected to the semifinal at Monday 7.7. The semifinal performance can last max. 10 minutes. Six groups are elected to the final at Tuesday 8.7. The final performance can last max. 15 minutes with same, partially same or completely different tunes as in semifinal performance.

The shortlist will be announced by the end of May.

The competition will award prizes of € 6000, which the jury may distribute as they see fit.

Travel costs are subsidised and accommodation is organised for those entering the competition. The winning group will have an own concert at Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. If a participant wishes to have some other performances at the festival, it must be agreed with the festival programming organisation.

Download link to a list of Konsta Jylhä's published sheet music and recordings (only in Finnish).

The competition is organised by Kaustinen's Pelimannitalo in cooperation with the Finnish Folk Music Institute.

More info:

Henna Leisiö
community producer, Finnish Folk Music Institute
044-5245693
konstajylhakilpailu@gmail.com

The winners of the competition so far (traditional/free series until 2015):

2024 Jenni Venäläinen
2023 ENKEL
2022 Luomuduo
(2020 and 2021 the competition wasn't arranged)
2019 Polenta
2018 Aiode
2017 MäSä
2016 Teho
2015 Onni Rajaniemi / Tero Pajunen
2014 Ilona Korhonen / Outi Pulkkinen
2013 Arto Järvelä / Anne-Mari Kivimäki
2012 Emilia Lajunen & Suvi Oskala / Teija Niku ja Grupa Balkan
2011 Emilia Lajunen / Eero Grundström
2010 Erkki Lassila & tytöt / Anssi Salminen & Markus Luomala