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NIU’s Gregory Barrett plays clarinet for ambassador of Finland

October 14, 2015
Kirsti Kauppi, ambassador of Finland to the United States, joins NIU’s Gregory Barrett.

Kirsti Kauppi, ambassador of Finland to the United States, joins NIU’s Gregory Barrett.

Gregory Barrett, professor of clarinet in the NIU School of Music, performed a recital of works by composers from Finland at the 2015 FinnFestUSA.

Barrett’s concert took place Oct. 11 in Buffalo, N.Y. Among the notable members of the audience was Kirsti Kauppi, ambassador of Finland to the United States.

Musicians and academics from Finland and the United States joined him to present concerts and lectures centered around the 150th anniversary the birth of Jean Sibelius and the 75th anniversary of Buffalo’s Kleinhans Music Hall, designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen.

Inspired by the music of Sibelius, Barrett has developed a wide-reaching interest in Finnish music and culture.

The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs sponsored his research in Finland to meet with contemporary composers of works for the clarinet. Resulting from this trip were Barrett’s dissertation and “The Finnish Clarinet,” released by ALBA CDs of Finland.