Hear the winners of the competition during the summer in Finland

Organ Night and Aria Festival Presents the 2024 International Mirjam Helin Singing Competition Winner:

Jingjing Xu is a Chinese mezzo-soprano born in 1999. She recently graduated with a master’s degree from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music in Montreal, where she studied under Annamaria Popescu, Michael McMahon, and Esther Gonthier. In 2022, she made her debut at the age of 22 in the title role of Handel’s Orlando with Opera McGill. In 2023, Xu won the Wirth Vocal Prize. In addition to opera, Xu is passionate about art song. In the summer of 2023, she participated in the Franz-Schubert-Institute. Her recent performances include the alto solo in Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle at a gala concert organized by the Société d’art vocal de Montréal. Xu and Montreal-based pianist Christopher Knopp have been working together as a duo since 2021.

The concert is organized in collaboration with the Mirjam Helin Singing Competition, arranged by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Jingjing Xu, mezzosoprano
Christopher Knopp, piano

Thu 11.7.2024 at 21:00
Espoo Cathedral
Kirkkopuisto 5, 02770 Espoo
Tickets 35 / 30 / 15 €
Available at Lippu.fi | Ticket sales at the door 1.5 hours before the concert

Artistic director of Joroinen Music Festival, Jussi Merikanto has chosen German soprano Kathrin Lorenzen, who finished second in the competition and won YLE’s audience award, as the singer for this concert from among the finalists of the Mirjam Helin singing competition. The concert pianist is Marjaana Merikanto. “Kathrin Lorenzen won the hearts of the listeners right from the start of the competition with her bright performance and artistry. How she lived music and how her personality created something completely new in the world of vocal music,” describes Jussi Merikanto.

The international Mirjam Helin singing competition was held on June 3-12, 2024 in Helsinki for the ninth time. The competition organized by the Finnish Cultural Fund since 1984 has highlighted many future top singers. At the final concert of the Music Hall on 12.6. the orchestra was the Helsinki City Orchestra, conducted by Sir Mark Elder. The winner of the competition was mezzo-soprano Jingjing Xu.

The concert will take place in Järvikylä manor. Doors open at 4 p.m.

The concert is carried out in cooperation with the Mirjam Helin Competition organized by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Kathrin Lorenzen, soprano
Marjaana Merikanto, piano

Fri 26.7.2024 at 17:00
Järvikylä Manor
Kartanotie 6, Joroinen
Duration: 2 h / intermission 30 min.
Tickets 40 €, available at Lippu.fi