Marja Lianko was born in Helsinki, Finland. She grew up in a home filled with art as her father was a collector and a latent sculptor. Marja emigrated to the USA soon after high school and received her art education at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, where she later taught printmaking and mixed media for more than two decades.
Much of Marja’s work has been inspired by the nature in her homeland, the vast forests of birches and pine trees, the abundance of color in the short summer and the lack of it during the long winter.
Her work has been exhibited in a number of museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, de Cordova Museum, Fogg Museum, Fuller Museum, Rose Museum, Duxbury Art Complex Museum, Boise Art Museum and Nicolaysen Museum.
She has received grants and fellowships from the New England Foundation for the Arts, Artists Foundation, Ballinglen Arts Foundation and Mellon Foundation. Her work is in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Fogg Museum, de Cordova Museum as well as in numerous corporations and hospitals.
Artist reception January 27th | 4pm
On display January and February 2019 | email for viewing hours
Badda’s Buddy is the story of Lisa and her grandfather, who are best friends. They go through their days together, shopping, working, and having treats. Every day is a good day when Lisa and Badda are together!
One day, another girl comes in to the picture, and Lisa became very worried that the good times are over for her and Badda.
Set in mid-century Bay Ridge Brooklyn, Badda’s Buddy shows us that the “melting pot” that Brooklyn is, has always been a home for immigrants from around the world, one generation at a time.
Join us for a special reading of the story by Lois while enjoying cookies and a special craft.
Saturday, March 9th at 11am | FREE with registration
Swedish singer and accordionist Sunniva Brynnel returns to the Scandinavian Cultural Center to release a solo album together with her American-based quartet!
After completing her masters studies in music at the New England Conservatory, it was time for Sunniva to go into the studio with the jazz group she has played with the most since arriving to the US in August 2016.
The album is recorded in New York with eminent musicians from Canada, Australia and the US, and it features songs of equally international character; the song lyrics consists of writings from Sweden, Lebanon, Turkey and more. She has also written original lyrics inspired by her travels around the world.
Saturday, February 23rd | 1pm | $15; FREE for SCC Members
The band:
Sunniva Brynnel – voice & accordion
Nathan Reising – alto saxophone
Andrew Boudreau – piano
James Heazlewood Dale – double bass
Aallotar is an exploration of one tradition from two perspectives. Violinist/vocalist Sara Pajunen – Finnish-American – and accordionist/vocalist Teija Niku – a Finn – use their common musical heritage as a starting point for original “chamber-folk.” Together they create new sounds that reflect their differing contemporary cultures and shared roots.
Since its formation in fall 2013 Aallotar has made numerous appearances in the US and performed at leading European festivals such as the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival (Finland) and Sounds of the North (Gdańsk, Poland). Their lithe instrumentals and beautiful vocal harmonies in both Finnish and English demonstrate how gracefully traditional and modern folk music can speak together. With their second album ‘Ameriikan laulu’ (Nordic Notes 2018), the ensemble’s distinctive sound is even more adventurous, elegant and profound.
‘This one has that extra elusive appeal, its lightness of touch and melodiousness of repertoire matching the skill of (the musicians)….’ fRoots UK
‘Fresh, skillful and imaginative playing.’ Kansanmusiikki (Finland)
Wednesday, February 20th | 7pm | $15 | $7 for SCC Members
It’s been three years since we last met Janne and Inari. Since then, they’ve had a daughter named Lumi. Janne and his friends experience a new adventure, this time on an autumn night. The boys go to a party but end up chasing Lumi who has disappeared. Meanwhile, Inari enjoys a girls-night-out and has an adventure of her own.
Saturday, February 16th | 1:30 | Free; $5 suggested donation
87 minutes. In Finnish with English subtitles.
Films start at 1:30pm. Refreshments for attendees are served at 1pm. Lunch (not included) is available in the Kaffestugan, which is open until 3pm every Saturday.
Finland has always long been famous for its choral tradition, composers, and beautiful choral repertoire. In this interactive lecture we will take a look at how the ensembles and the tradition has changed over the course of the past twenty years. We will watch video performances of some of the best known Finnish choral ensembles, and hear music by Finnish choral composers. In the end all audience members will get to participate in singing traditional Finnish songs.
Sunday, February 24th | 3pm | Admission is free; donations welcome to support programming.
ABOUT THE LECTURER: Dr. Riikka Pietiläinen-Caffrey is an associate professor of music at Bunker Hill Community College. Riikka, a native Finn, has toured Europe and South America with the internationally-acclaimed Finnish choir, Philomela. Riikka is an active conductor, singer, and vocal coach, and is frequently invited as a soloist, adjudicator, and guest clinician for schools and choral ensembles, both in Europe and within the United States. Her compositions and arrangements have been published by Alliance Music Publications and Kandinsky Music. Riikka’s research interests include holistic choral experience, vocal pedagogy, mindfulness in choirs, and the mirror neuron system. Her article “Monkey See, Monkey Do – The Choral Conductor and the Mirror Neuron System” was published in the United States in The Choral Journal as well as in the Australian National Choral Association’s national publication, Sing Out! Riikka holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the City College of City University of New York as well as Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Colorado.
In this series of infant and mother classes you will be provided with guidance on a variety of topics to make your transition at home with your baby as easy and cozy as possible.
Learn about important infant topics in an atmosphere of hygge (coziness) while we fika with Swedish coffee and pastries. Cozy sweaters and socks are encouraged! The end of each class will be open to discussion and a Q&A session for moms.
Tuesdays, March 5th – April 9th | 10:30-11:30am | $25 per class (discount for 6 week registration available)
03/05 – How to have a hygge home and baby
03/12 – Formula/Breastfeeding/Introducing Bottles/Weaning
03/19 – Infant Play and Top Sensory Development Toys
03/26 – Sleep Training Essentials
04/02 – Introducing Solids and Sippy Cups
04/09 – Scandinavian Parenting in a Nutshell–What we can learn from this region as our babies grow
ABOUT KATE: Kathryn “Kate” Leaf Wallace is a Boston nurse with nearly 24 years of infant and childcare experience and owner of Mamma & Bebis, sleep training and infant care consulting agency. She holds a masters degree in healthcare leadership from Brown University, and holds certificates in breastfeeding counseling and childbirth education as well. Kate founded her business to support other mothers around the Scandinavian model of mothers supporting mothers. She enjoys sharing her Swedish heritage any baby knowledge with others over “fika” or coffee and pastry breaks. Kate lives with her husband and daughter Karoline Astrid outside of Boston.
Come and experience one of Verdi’s most lyrical masterpieces with Luciano Pavarotti in the leading role.
The story is a simple one and was based on the real-life assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden in 1792. He was a great patron of the arts and a monarch who still fascinates the Swedish people. His assassin, Count Anckarström,
killed him at a Masked Ball as the result of a political conspiracy against him.
Saturday, February 9, 2019, 1pm | $15; $7 for SCC members
Speaker: Erika Reitshamer, born and educated in Germany, is a passionate and lifelong fan of opera. She was active in the formation of the Boston Lyric Opera Co. more than 40 years ago. As Vice President of the Boston Wagner Society, she presented lectures, organized concerts, and promoted visiting scholars. She is a board member of the New England Opera Club and teacher of opera appreciation for LLARC at Regis College, Sherborn Lifelong Education, and WISE at Assumption College. Her last presentation for SCC was Mozart’s MAGIC FLUTE – “Trollflötjen.
Join a group of families for Norwegian playgroup! Give your kids a chance to speak Norwegian with other children while playing and learning.Saturday, March 2nd | 1:30 – 3pm | $5 suggested donation per child
Join us for an evening of food, fun, and friendly competition as our Italian Executive Director and our Swedish Board President’s banter about which country has better meatballs results in the
Meatball Battle: Two Great Countries. Two Beloved Meatballs.
Which one is better? You decide.
Each ticket includes sampling of meatballs from each country, beverages, dessert– and of course a ballot for voting.
Saturday, February 9th | 6pm | Tickets $25 (adult), $10 (kids); Members $20 (adult), $10 (kids)
*please note tickets MUST be purchased in advance*
Community College. Riikka, a native Finn, has toured Europe and South America with the internationally-acclaimed Finnish choir, Philomela. Riikka is an active conductor, singer, and vocal coach, and is frequently invited as a soloist, adjudicator, and guest clinician for schools and choral ensembles, both in Europe and within the United States. Her compositions and arrangements have been published by Alliance Music Publications and Kandinsky Music. Riikka’s research interests include holistic choral experience, vocal pedagogy, mindfulness in choirs, and the mirror neuron system. Her article “Monkey See, Monkey Do – The Choral Conductor and the Mirror Neuron System” was published in the United States in The Choral Journal as well as in the Australian National Choral Association’s national publication, Sing Out! Riikka holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the City College of City University of New York as well as Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Colorado.
ABOUT KATE: Kathryn “Kate” Leaf Wallace is a Boston nurse with nearly 24 years of infant and childcare experience and owner of 