Wilho Saari
Finnish instrument maker and musician
Naselle, WA
Wilho Saari is a kantele player in the tradition of his Finnish ancestors. He
comes from a long line of players that can be traced back many generations, and has
chosen to carry on this important Finnish musical tradition. Saari has a wide knowledge
of the history of the kantele, as well as a sincere commitment to many other aspects of
Finnish folklore. The kantele is a wooden stringed instrument usually played on the lap
or on a table. It generally has from 15 to 40 metal strings and produces a harp- or
bell-like sound. Saari is strongly devoted to perpetuating the tradition of the kantele
and he spends hours every day practicing traditional Finnish songs and creating new
tunes. Wilho participates in many folk festivals around the country where he conducts
workshops on kantele playing. He has performed at community events and has produced a
number of recordings of kantele songs, traditional and otherwise.
As a recipient of a 1993 Apprenticeship grant, Saari taught his daughter, Karen Nelson to
play the kantele. Today, Karen is quite a competent player, attributing her proficiency
to the impetus that the Apprenticeship Program provided. Wilho received Washington State's
highest artistic honor in 2005 as the recipient of a Governor's Heritage Award and was
bestowed the nation’s highest award for traditional arts when he received a 2007 NEA
National Heritage Fellowship.