Guitar orchestras

Throughout their studies, musicians can develop their instrument management and skills of playing together in the Turku Conservatory guitar orchestras. Ensembles of guitarists of different ages also regularly perform to an audience.

Kitarataiturit

Orchestra of guitarists in school grades 1–3.

The Kitarataiturit orchestra is intended for the youngest guitarists. It serves as a practice orchestra for the Kitaramestarit orchestra, which is for slightly more experienced players. The orchestra’s programme consists of children’s songs, which are arranged to suit all of the orchestra’s members. You can join the orchestra as soon as you find the notes G and A on the third string.

Kitarataiturit teaches the basics of playing together. It is also important to get to know other children playing the same instrument. Kitarataiturit perform in guitarist concerts and in the traditional Christmas concert of young guitarists.

In the school year 2024–2025, Kitarataiturit practises on Wednesdays from 17.15 to 18 in the small hall of Mestarinkatu.

The orchestra is led by Hanna Kourula.

Kitaramestarit

Orchestra of guitarists in school grades 4–5.

Kitaramestarit orchestra is meant for guitar players aged 9–11 years who have been playing for some time. It serves as a practice orchestra for the more advanced Kitarasankarit orchestra. The orchestra’s programme consists of mostly known songs, which are arranged to suit all of the orchestra’s members.

The main objective of the orchestra is to teach children how to play together, get the players to react to each other’s playing and to assume responsibility for their part in the orchestra. It is also important to get to know other children and young people playing the same instrument. Kitaramestarit performs regularly at concerts organised by the Conservatory and at Children’s Music Festival.

Kitaramestarit orchestra also welcomes players who are not students of the Conservatory or the Institute of Music but who are familiar with at least notes G1–G2, that is, the notes in the top three strings and first position.

In the school year 2024–2025, Kitaramestarit practise on Wednesdays from 18.00 to 18.45 in the small hall of Mestarinkatu.

The orchestra is led by Hanna Kourula.

Kitarasankarit

Orchestra for guitarists in school grades 6–9.

Kitarasankarit is an orchestra of guitarists who have advanced further and whose players are from grades 6–9. They play pieces of songs that are more extensive than those of the younger Kitaramestarit. The music will be arranged to suit the orchestra’s players. Its programme is versatile and includes both movie and game music in addition to classical and folk music. Kitarasankarit performs together with Kitarissimo! in their own concerts at, for example, Turku Art Museum, Art Chapel, Sibelius Museum and Betel Church.

The orchestra’s purpose is to help the players commit to a group of friends who play music and to enjoy the joy of playing together through practice and concerts. Kitarasankarit orchestra also welcomes players who are not students of the Conservatory.

In the school year 2024–2025, Kitarasankarit practise on Wednesdays from 16.00 to 17.00 in the small hall of Mestarinkatu.

Kitarasankarit are led by Tuomas Kourula.

Kitarissimo!

Guitar orchestra for students aged 16–19 and adults

The guitarists who play in Kitarissimo! have achieved a lot of skill in their hobby. The initial level is the PT3 level performance with a guitar.

In Kitarissimo! orchestra, players get to explore music more extensively than as solo players and also to play the gems of Western art music arranged for the guitar orchestra. Their list of music also features lighter cross-over music and movie scores. The aim is to refine the co-playing skills the student has learned from their previous orchestra experience and reach an even higher level, and to experience the joy of performing together.

Kitarissimo! is meant to provide a way to continue the hobby even after the guitarist has completed their studies and no longer attends music classes. This way, the orchestra can eventually grow into a social and musical community, just like many of the choirs.

Guitarists who do not study at Turku Conservatory can also join the orchestra if they have sufficient playing and note reading skills, that is, approximately at a level corresponding to the PT3 course. If necessary, their skills will be tested. Kitarissimo!  performs together with Kitarasankarit orchestra in their own concerts at, for example, Turku Art Museum, Art Chapel, Sibelius Museum and Betel Church.

In the school year 2024–2025, Kitarissimo! practises on Wednesdays from 19.00 to 20.30 in the small hall of Mestarinkatu.

Kitarissimo! is led by Tuomas Kourula.

Suuri kitaraorkesteri (The Great Guitar Orchestra)

In spring 2015, all three Turku Conservatory guitar orchestras – Kitaramestarit, Kitarasankarit and Kitarissimo! – joined forces in a great project where more than 40 guitarists gathered to play Jean-Philippe Rameau’s music on stage at the Sigyn Hall.

Both the players and teachers enjoyed this experience so much that they started planning the next year’s project immediately. They also decided that the Conservatory’s guitarists would get together to play every spring. A new tradition was born!

Suuri kitaraorkesteri gathers approximately once a year during the spring. Every year they play a new set. The years 2020–2021 were exceptions, because we had to postpone projects due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Tuomas Kourula leads Suuri kitaraorkesteri.

Videos of guitar orchestra performances

You can watch more videos on the Turku Conservatory YouTube account.