Finnish-American musician Wilho Saari To Play May 15

Nationally acclaimed Finnish-American kantele player Wilho Saari will give an informal talk and concert on Friday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. The program is associated with the museum’s new exhibit, “Extraordinary Ordinary People: American Masters of Traditional Arts.” No admission will be charged but donations are encouraged.

Saari, a fifth-generation kantele player, earned a National Heritage Fellowship for his musicianship and for popularizing the stringed instrument in the United States. The kantele is the national instrument of Finland. Saari has composed more than 1,700 tunes and is in demand as a performer at Finnish festivals across the country. In his program at the museum he will discuss and demonstrate several kanteles, answer questions, and play traditional and original songs.

The exhibit and five associated live programs at the museum are co-presented by Northwest Heritage Resources with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, ArtsWA (formerly Washington State Arts Commission), Humanities WA, Finlandia Foundation and Michigan State University. The museum is located at 127 S. Mission Street in Wenatchee. For more information call (509) 888-6240 or visit www.wvmcc.org.