About the Artist

Diane Jarvi is a unique artist with credentials in authentic Finnish folk music, accolades as a performer and interpreter of World music, and recognition for her original contemporary work. Speaking of her musical heritage Jarvi says All four of my grandparents emigrated from Finland to Minnesota at the beginning of the 20th century. My goal has always been to bring to my audiences the vast range of music that exists in the homeland of my grandparents. But when I perform and teach this music I am not only performing the music of my ancestors from that far off land, but also the music of Minnesota. This is the place where my grandparents left behind their Finnish songs and experiences. I want to share that with a community that can also share their Finnish-American stories with me and find what connects us and how we can continue a cultural legacy. My goal is always to create music while building new traditions.


Recordings
CD: Wild Gardens 2007
CD: Paper Heart 2004
CD: Flying Into Blue 1999
CD: Revontuli 1996 
CD: Foreign Winds 1992
Finnish music and kantele on all five recordings.

Awards
Bush Foundation Artist Fellowship finalist for Traditional and Ethnic
Performing Arts 2009
Finlandia Foundation Performer of the Year 1999-2000
McKnight Artist Fellowship for Performing Musicians from the MacPhail Center for the Arts, 1999
Minnesota Music Award nomination for CD Flying Into Blue, 2000
Honorable Mention John Lennon Songwriting Contest 2000
Recipient of Minnesota State Arts Board Sudden Opportunity Grant 1990

Rosters
Currently listed artist in Minnesota State Arts Board Folk Arts Directory


Performances (partial listing)
World Music Events
World music concert College of Idaho, Caldwell, Idaho 2010
World music Concert Ibsen Festival, Lanesboro, MN 2010
Guest performer Nordic Symposium Los Angeles 2010
Guest performer in concert- St. Bauzille de Montmel, France- 2008
Hawaii Public Radio Concert, Honolulu- 2008
Guest performer of The Minnesota Oratorio Society 1999
World music concerts and festivals in: California, Colorado, Maine, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, Iowa, Washington, Minnesota, Canada. 1992-2010
Finnish and Finnish-American Events
Guest Performer at the Finnish Embassy—Washington D.C. 2000
Guest performer and Kantele instructor- FinnfestUSA Duluth,  2008
Solo performer and subject of Finnish YLE documentaries Kaipuu and Muistot, 2007
Concert tour of Finland, Kaustinen, Haapavesi, Vaasa, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Ranua 1997
Guest performer for Northern Lights Festival, Rovaniemi, Finland 1996

 Other 
Included on Café Accordion Orchestra CD Berets and Bongos, 2010
Included on Southside Soul II  CD compilation 2009
Included on Minnesota Homegrown, best acoustic singer/songwriters, 1999
Featured on Cafe Accordion Orchestra CD, Dancing On The Moon, 1996
Featured on two Koivun Kaiku kantele ensemble recordings. 1987, 1999

 Books
As Diane Jarvenpa
 Divining The Landscape, New Rivers Press. 1996. Ancient Wonders, The Modern World, Red Dragonfly Press. 2005 The Tender Wild Things, New Rivers Press. 2007

 Education
Bachelor of Arts, Metropolitan State University, 1994.
Major: Music - Performing Arts   Minor: Creative Writing
Previously attended: Macalester College (Adult Scholar program); University of Minnesota.

Studied kantele and Finnish folk music at Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, 1990

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