"When I play in the orchestra, I feel like I belong"

Considering to make Helsinki your home?

Jon Torre

The rehearsals are mostly in Finnish and I've had the chance to practice my language skills. Finns speak such good English that in other situations they easily change to English. This makes practicing Finnish difficult.

At the end of 2017, we held a concert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Finnish independence and we played Finlandia by Sibelius. It was one of the most intense musical experiences of my life. Many people in the audience cried. I had been in Finland for about a year then, and at that point I started to really feel like I am home.

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Jon Torre plays the viola in the Adult Education Centre's symphony orchestra in Helsinki. The rehearsal space is one the most important places for him. He can also learn and practice the Finnish language there. ...