Merja Soria Lecturer San Diego State University Music & Dance Room 269 Phone: 619 594 7452 Fax: 619 594 1692 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-7902 Office Hours:  By Appointment Email:msoria@cox.net Education:M.M., Sibelius Academy, Helsinki

Background:

Merja Soria, a native of Finland, is instructor of traditional Finnish music at San Diego State University. A multi-instrumentalist specializing in kantele (Finnish folk harp) and voice, Ms. Soria received her Master of Music degree at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. In 1995 she was named the first Finlandia Foundation Performer of the Year. In 1992 she performed a program of ancient Finnish music prior to the Los Angeles Philharmonic's performance of Sibelius' Kullervo Symphony. In 2003 Ms. Soria performed at the Winterfest Celebration honoring the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen. During the summer 2000 Ms. Soria performed at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.
At San Diego State University Ms. Soria formed a performing ensemble “Suddenly Finnish.” The group has performed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., at the Boise River Festival in Idaho, and at the Institute on World Affairs in San Diego. In 2001 and 2002 Suddenly Finnish performed in Finland, including performances at KIHAUS, the second largest folk music festival of Finland. The group was also featured on major TV and radio stations and in many newspapers.

Ms. Soria’s most recent recording Arctic Silence is an evocative selection of ancient Finnish songs. One song from Arctic Silence was featured in the National Geographic Television's program "Beyond the Movie: Lord of the Rings." Ms. Soria’s music has also been heard on television commercials, including a Coca-Cola commercial heard nationally during the 1992 Winter Olympics.

In addition to her performance and university teaching, Ms. Soria has also conducted workshops on kantele for educators and the general public throughout the United States, including a workshop in 2004 at the National Conference of American Orff Schulwerk Association. She also conducts music workshops for children.

Courses Taught at SDSU:
Music 170/370/570 – Finnish Ensemble
Music 405A – Comprehensive Musicianship Lab: Finland
Music 445 – Performing Arts and Culture: Finland

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