Ahjo Ensemble is a Helsinki-based chamber choir. Founded in 2013, the mission of the choir is to perform versatile choir repertoire of the highest artistic level while enlivening the choral culture with its diverse, surprising and skilful approach. The singers of the ensemble are long-time choir enthusiasts, united by the love of music and desire to offer memorable experiences for various audiences. During its first years, Ahjo Ensemble focused especially on performing contemporary Finnish choir music and working in several cross-genre productions, which continue to form a major part of Ahjo Ensemble’s choral activities as of today. 

Together with the choir’s current conductor, Master of Music Julia Lainema, Ahjo Ensemble has lately dedicated considerable time and effort in discovering works of forgotten female choral composers, both Finnish and international, from the 19th century to this day. In addition to performing this lesser-known repertoire in its concerts, the mission to make the choral scene more inclusive continues to be at the top of Ahjo’s agenda. Moreover, the choir works actively with contemporary composers and gives first public performances of new works on a regular basis.

Ahjo Ensemble has performed in several Finnish classical music festivals, cooperating with orchestras such as Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and UMO Jazz Orchestra and recording for the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. The choir has also performed with the Finnish pop producer Pykäri in several productions. In 2016, Ahjo Ensemble was chosen as finalist at the International Harald Andérsen Chamber Choir Competition, and part of the choir’s competition programme was broadcasted by BBC Radio 3 later that year.