Honours and folk musician badges
For honours, Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto (the Finnish Folk Music Association) has a table standard and a silver and a gold merit badge.
Table standard
May be awarded to a member association, a folk music institution or organisation, another partner, a folk music group or an individual who has worked to promote folk music. The table standard is awarded by the board of Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto, either on its own initiative or on a member association's proposal.
The standard costs 30 €.
Silver merit badge
May be awarded to a person who has promoted regional folk music activity for at least 10 years and has been a member of Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto or one of its member associations for at least two years. The silver merit badge is awarded by Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto or its member association.
The silver merit badge costs 60 €.
Gold merit badge
Awarded for long-standing, significant nationwide contributions to promoting folk music. The gold merit badge is awarded by the board of Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto, either on its own initiative or on a member association's proposal. An application made by another party must have a member association's endorsement.
The gold merit badge costs 90 €.
Folk musician badge
Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto developed the folk musician badge system in the early 1980s to encourage players and give the hobby goals. Completing a badge develops your own playing and a folk music repertoire that interests you. The examination jury gives expert feedback on badge performances.
Registration for badge examination events: toimisto@kansanmusiikkiliitto.fi
Preliminary work and examinations
Bronze badge
Well before the examination event, the candidate submits to the jury a written list of 20 folk tunes they know. The repertoire should consist mainly of traditional folk music, but own compositions and foreign folk music may also be included.
Silver badge
Well before the examination event, the candidate submits to the jury a written list of 40 folk tunes they know. A completed bronze badge is required as preliminary work. The silver badge can be taken at the earliest one year after completing the bronze badge.
Gold badge
The candidate sends Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto, well in advance and at least two weeks before the examination event, a written list of 60 folk tunes they know. A completed silver badge is required as preliminary work. The gold badge can be taken at the earliest one year after completing the silver badge.
Examination events
Examination events are held annually in connection with Samuelin Poloneesi, the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival and the Murikka folk music and folk dance courses. Other examination events organised by the association are announced separately.
Upcoming folk musician badge examination venues
- At the Lokakuun Loiskeet event, Hotel Kivitippu, 4 Oct at 13:00, Lappajärvi
- In connection with the Murikka folk music and folk dance courses, 28 Dec at 18:00–19:00, Tampere
- In connection with Samuelin Poloneesi in March 2026, Savonlinna
- At the Kaustinen folk music festival in July 2026, main hall of Pelimannitalo, Kaustinen Folk Music Festival
Enquiries about badge examination events: executive director Jaana Kari, tel. 044 776 7182
Submission of tune lists: toiminnanjohtaja@kansanmusiikkiliitto.fi
Adapting the badge examinations
Accompaniment instruments
For bass, harmonium and other accompaniment instruments, the requirements are applied where appropriate. For the bronze badge the candidate plays one fairly easy melody, for the silver badge two moderately difficult melodies. For the gold badge at least a quarter of the performances must be melody playing.
Singing
In folk musician badge examinations in singing, the list of songs must cover a versatile range of song types. The repertoire must include at least one runo song, rekilaulu song, ballad, hymn, dance song and lullaby. Performing own songs and improvising counts as a merit. The hymn may be left out of the repertoire if desired.
Badge examination prices
| Badge | Price |
|---|---|
| Bronze badge | 25 € |
| Silver badge | 40 € |
| Gold badge | 90 € |
If the candidate is not a member of Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto or one of its member associations, a sum equal to the membership fee is invoiced with the badge examination. For an approved examination the candidate receives a badge and a certificate.
The title of oltermanni
The title of oltermanni of Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto may be awarded to one master of folk music, a transmitter and preserver of tradition, in a region. Member organisations for special instruments may name their own oltermanni. The title is held for life.
The title of oltermanni is awarded by the board of Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto. If a holder wishes to give up the title, for example due to illness or moving to another region, a new active oltermanni may be chosen alongside them. The former oltermanni does not, however, lose the title.
Oltermanni title holders by region
Etelä-Häme
Heikki Rassi, Hämeenlinna, appointed 2024
Raimo Raussi, Hämeenlinna, appointed 2002, deceased
Tuomas Kataja, Asikkala, appointed 1985, died 2001
Etelä-Karjala
No oltermanni currently appointed
Orvokki Ramsi, Suomenniemi, appointed 1985, died 2004
Etelä-Pohjanmaa
Risto Ala-Ikkelä, Kauhajoki, appointed 2022 (active oltermanni)
Lasse Peltonen, Ilmajoki, appointed 1993
Aatos Rintakoski, Kauhajoki, appointed 1973, deceased
Häme
Erlend Jantsikene, Vilppula, appointed 6 Apr 2025
Antti Koiranen, Lempäälä, appointed 2018, died 2024
Yrjö Raja, Virrat, appointed 2001, died 2017
Voitto K. Mäkelä, appointed 1996, deceased
Huugo Värälä, appointed 1981, died 1995
Fredrik Koivikko, Vilppula, appointed 1972, died 1974
Itä-Savo
Raili Pulkkinen, Savonlinna, appointed 2020
Kaarlo Salmela, Ruokolahti, appointed 1983, died 2019
Kainuu
No oltermanni currently appointed
Lauri Keränen, Hyrynsalmi, appointed 1988, died 2006
Keski-Pohjanmaa
Risto Hotakainen, appointed 2021
Sulo Alaspää, Veteli, appointed 1993, died 2008
Johannes Järvelä, Kaustinen, appointed 1981, died 1992
Keski-Suomi
Erkki Hiekkavirta, Jyväskylä, appointed 2018
Voitto Mäkelä, Jyväskylä, appointed 1997, died 2017
Lauri Kahilainen, rural Jyväskylä, appointed 1984, deceased
Pekka Kinnunen, Kannonkoski, appointed 1971, deceased
Kymenlaakso
Pertti Ilomäki, Elimäki, appointed 2013
Paavo Ihanainen, appointed 2000, died 2011
Lappi
Arvo Ylitalo, Sodankylä, appointed 1989, died 2020
Pohjois-Karjala
Tapio Pärepalo, Kiihtelysvaara
Sakari Riikonen, Kontiolahti, appointed 1995, died 2002
Pohjois-Pohjanmaa
Jussi Haanpää, Oulu, appointed 2011, died 2021
Matti Tuhkala, appointed 1992, died 2002
Pohjois-Savo
Seppo Kononen, Kaavi, appointed 2018 (active oltermanni)
Erkki Vepsäläinen, Varkaus, appointed 1991
Juho Kekkonen, Karttula, appointed 1981, deceased
Satakunta
Anita Salmi, Pori, appointed 2022
Antti Lehtola, Pori, appointed 2014, died 2021
Aimo Koskimäki, Eura, appointed 1995, died 2013
Edith Tuomi, Pori, appointed 1987, died 1993
Kustaa Järvinen, Eura, appointed 1977, died 1979
Eino Saari, Karvia, appointed 1976, died 1983
Suomen Huuliharpistit
Matti Ylitalo, Vihti, appointed 2013
Suomen Sahansoittajat
No oltermanni currently appointed
Uusimaa
Maria Kalaniemi, Espoo, appointed 12 Apr 2025
Tapani Mäkinen, Helsinki
Jussi Janka-Murros, appointed 1992, relinquished the active title during his lifetime, died 1998
Martin Hellström, Espoo, appointed 1978, died 1989
Varsinais-Suomi
Veikko Lahtinen, Yläne, appointed 2020
Veikko Kotiranta, Loimaa, appointed 1993, died 2023
Eino Sointula, Yläne, appointed 1990, died 1993
Ylä-Savo
Eino Paulus, appointed 6 Apr 2025
Pertti Malinen, Iisalmi, appointed 1994
Väinö Kumpulainen, Vieremä, appointed 1987, died 1993
Aatu Karppinen, Lapinlahti, appointed 1985, deceased
Taavetti Tenhunen, Lapinlahti, appointed 1974, deceased