Wind instrument orchestras

Aura Mini Winds

Start at the beginning of the second year of studies.

The orchestra’s (level 1) goal is to teach the basics of ensemble playing: handling rhythm, following the leader, listening to others and adapting based on how others play, group formation, practice routines; how to come to practice and be there, and performances.

Advancement to the next orchestra level and learning: 1–2 school years.

In the school year 2024–2025, the orchestra will practise in the large hall of Mestarinkatu on Mondays from 16.30 to 17.15, and it is led by Mia Pertola and Johanna Laakso.

Aura Junior Winds

Advancement to the orchestra (level 2) requires adequate ability read notes and the ability to play key signatures with at least two accidentals. The players can play a range that covers more than one octave, and they also have moderate skills in different rhythmic topics.

The aim is that the players know how to work as members of a group, and they are responsible for being able to play their part. They take care of their own notes and are also able to practise their parts independently. The players are able to follow the conductor and strive for versatile expression as a group.

The orchestra’s programme includes versatile wind instrument music that is adapted and composed for younger players. The orchestra regularly performs at Children’s Music Festival and various Turku Conservatory events. In the school year 2024–2025, the orchestra practises on Wednesdays from 16.45 to 17.45 in the big hall of Mestarinkatu, and it is led by Mia Pertola and Karri Kerkelä.

Aura Youth Wind Band

Advancement to the orchestra (level 3) requires good ability read notes and the ability to play key signatures with at least four accidentals. The students can play at a range of several octaves, and they are familiar with aspects related to the expression of different musical styles, are able to play in versatile rhythm and pay attention to staying in tune and the tone. The players are aware of their role in the group and work in varying tasks in their own sections. The players are responsible for their own notes and also practise their parts independently.

The orchestra’s programme stretches genre boundaries diversely from rock to classic. The orchestra performs annually at many different events and concerts. The age range in the orchestra is currently 10–45 years. In the school year 2024–2025, the orchestra practises in the Mestarinkatu banquet hall on Wednesdays from 18.00 to 19.30, and it is led by Mia Pertola and Karri Kerkelä.

Aura Wind Band

Aura Wind Band (level 4) is a goal-oriented learning environment for students who will soon finish basic education in the arts and who are taking advanced courses. Students from vocational upper secondary level and universities of applied sciences can also be members of the orchestra. You can carry out competence demonstrations in connection with the concerts and performances. The difficulty of the musical compositions ranges from Grade 3 to 5. The orchestra also includes a significant number of players from outside the educational institution and instrumentalists who have already completed their music studies and who want to maintain their musical hobby or professional skills by playing together.

Our own regularly hosted concerts and the springtime Turku wind instrument music festival have played an important role in the orchestra’s operation. The concerts often also include competence demonstrations of orchestra playing and soloists. The orchestra has also performed abroad in Novgorod, Tallinn and Italy, and in Finland, it has played in Lahti, Tampere, Rauma, Ekenäs and Mariehamn.

The orchestra has participated in national events: Finnish championship of wind instrument orchestras in Jakobstad in 2013, the Kuopio Nuori soittaa event in 2015 and 2020, the Finnish championship in Turku in 2017 (Series A II place) and the WindFest 2021 event in Pori. The feedback has been positive and encouraging.

In the school year 2024–2025, Aura Wind Band will practise in the Mestarinkatu banquet hall on Mondays from 17.30 to 19.30, and it is led by Pekka Lyytinen.

Huiluorkesteri (Flute orchestra)

Huiluorkesteri is for students of basic education in the arts and students who study the flute in vocational education or Turku University of Applied Sciences. You can choose from different flutes, from the piccolo to the bass flute.

In spring 2022, Huiluorkesteri sent a video to participate in the Global Music Awards competition organised in California, United States. Our orchestra leader, flute lecturer Oleg Sytianko, has worked together with composer Eugene Magalif for a long time. The composer’s performance of Ave Maria was chosen as the second best in the religious music series. More than 20,000 performers from different categories and around the world participated in the competition. In the school year 2024–2025, Huiluorkesteri practises on Linnankatu in the Crichton Hall on Tuesdays from 18:00 to 20:00.