Folk Arts - Master Artist - Wilho Saari

Wilho Saari. Photo by Fritz Dent.

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 tradition. Saari has vast knowledge of the history of the kantele and a strong commitment to many other aspects of Finnish folklore, as well. Saari is devoted to furthering the tradition of the kantele and spends hours each day practicing traditional Finnish songs and creating new tunes. Saari participates in many folk festivals around the country where he conducts workshops on kantele playing. He has performed at community events and produced a number of recordings of kantele songs, traditional and otherwise.

As the recipient of a 1993 Apprenticeship grant, Saari taught his daughter, Karen Nelson to play the kantele. Wilho began to teach his daughter in June of 1993. Today Karen is a quite competent player, attributing her proficiency to the impetus that the Apprenticeship Program provided.

Saari received Washington State's highest artistic honor in 2005 as the recipient of a Governor's Heritage Award. Additionally, he was bestowed the nation’s highest honor for traditional arts with a 2007 National Folk Arts Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.