It started with tropical heat but ended with heavy drops of rain and tears … the 20th edition of Ethno Sweden was very emotional as always. 96 participants from 13 countries made Ethno 2009 a very special week for all involved. The final concert in front of a jubilant crowd was breath taking and the anniversary party afterwards never ended - it just went on into the final day with the departure and the crying.

Fantastic - thank you all!

16 traditional/ethnic musicians are invited to participate at ETHNO ESTONIA 2009!

During the ETHNO week, traditional music mostly from Estonia will be taught and introduced through music sessions both in smaller workshops and major dance, singing and instrumental workshops with all Ethno Estonia participants.

Ethno Estonia is a traditional music camp for 60-70 young musicians in the age of 16-30. Ethno Estonia is held every year in mid-July just before the Viljandi Folk Music Festival and the Ethno week ends with the grand festival with more than 20.000 visitors. The Estonian traditional music workshop participants will be asked to perform together with the other Ethno Estonia participants both on major and smaller stages at the festival. The Ethno concert programs consist of tunes and songs that have been taught during the week and invites the audience to enjoy the music, to dance and feel the true spirit of traditional music.

For more information about Ethno Estonia, visit:  http://www.etno.folk.ee/

The participation fee and travel costs are supported by the participants’ local Rotary clubs (when applying to Ethno Estonia, the organisers of Ethno Estonia will help to get in contact with Rotary clubs all around the world) and will for non-Estonian participants be 150 €. The fee includes workshops, excursions, lodging and all meals during Ethno Estonia from the 17th to the 23rd of July and lodging during the Viljandi Folk Music Festival from the 23rd to the 26th of July.

If you are interested in participating at the Ethno Estonia, please:

1.    Send us a DEMO-recording (mp3 or CD)  with three tunes. It doesn’t have to be of high quality – it is only needed to give a picture of your musical skills. One of the pieces must be a solo performance though.
Deadline: 24th of April (all applications will be responded to by the 4th of May).
Postal address:
Att. Sofia Joons
August Pulst school
Tasuja pst.6
Viljandi 71011
Estonia

E-mail: sofia.joons@folk.ee

From her you’ll also get  additional information by phone +372 5664 2510 or by e-mail sofia.joons@folk.ee

2.    Your personal information:
-    (all) Your name (-s)
-    Your age
-    Your nationality
-    Your postal address
-    Your e-mail
-    Your language skills
-    Instruments you play/instruments you intend to bring to Ethno Estonia
-    Information on how long you have been playing your instrument(s)
-    Information on how familiar you are with your own country’s traditional music
-    Information on how familiar you are with learning music by ear, without notes

The aforementioned information must be sent a.s.a.p. by e-mail to Sofia Joons (sofia@folk.ee) before the 24th of April 2009.

Arrival: At Tallinn Airport or Tallinn Harbour on Thursday 16th of July.
Departure: From Tallinn Airport or Harbour on Sunday, 26th of July. If you are interested, the Viljandi Rotary club offers you to stay a week with a nice Estonian family after Ethno Estonia.
Accommodation: Kõpu school (near Viljandi)    and lodging at a school in central Viljandi during the Viljandi Folk Music Festival on the 23rd to the 26th of July.

The 10th edition of FLANDERS ETHNO will take place 20-27 July 2009!

Flanders Ethno is the meeting place for young folk musicians from all over the world. In previous editions participants met from Bulgaria, Basque Country, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, England, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Lebanon, The Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Senegal, Slovenia, Sweden, Uganda and Tunesia!

Among the artistic leaders of this year: Allan Skrobe, Vincent Noiret and Rémy Decker.

Tervuren is a busy village near the southern border of Brussels and it offers a unique location with famous parks, woods and the wellknown Museum of Central Africa. The program of the week consists of a series of workshops, social events, excursions and some concerts in which all the musicians will perform together.

Info & registration: www.flandersethno.be

Ethno Sweden will be held July 2-10, 2009 and celebrates an incredible 20 years of Ethno Sweden!  Since it’s beginning as a small folk music camp for young musicians alongside the Falun Folk Music Festival, many more new Ethnos have been born thanks to the pioneer work of the first Swedish leaders and organizers. All ex-ethno participants are invited to a special anniversary party at the Folkmusikens Hus in Rattvik on the last day of Ethno Sweden 2009!

Ethno Histria 2009 will be held 29 June - 7 July in Gracisce, Slovenia!

As usual, around 60 participants from all over the world are expected, including actors and directors from the theatre school of Prague. In additional to concerts in the village, town, monastery and cave, we will also perform on 2 street theatre festivals, in a jail and other interesting places.

Leaders: Matija Solce, Nano Stern, Stina Rosén, Maarja Nuut, Stephan Steiner