Airientation 2025: A New Tradition Continues at World Music School AIR

Airientation 2025: A New Tradition Continues at World Music School AIR

World Music School AIR

On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the Air Guitar World Championships kicked off with Airientation, hosted for the second time at the World Music School AIR in Oulu. With over 100 participants, both local and international, the day once again proved how air guitar brings together community, creativity, and cultural exchange.

The program opened with the Airlympics, a playful tournament featuring Finnish-style party sports like boot tossing and hobby-horse riding. This year’s hobby-horse champion was Airguityler from New Zealand, while the boot toss winner Nordic Thunder added a surprise twist by inviting SUDO-Chan from Japan to throw an old Nokia phone in a bonus round. SUDO-Chan went on to take second place in the World Championships.

One of the highlights of the day was a mass synchronized air guitar windmill attempt to “Rock Lobster,” as dozens of participants moved together in chaotic harmony. Inside the school, visitors explored early plans for the upcoming Air Guitar Museum and joined a peace flag workshop, reflecting the ongoing mission to Make Air Not War.

As night fell, the school hosted a community dinner prepared by Lloyd “Stonehenge” Weema, creating a cosy space for conversation, song, and shared meals. After dinner, guests gathered around the campfire, listened to a live performance by Luna Vesania, and relaxed in a tent sauna constructed by Kesän Sauna — a perfect way to unwind in true Finnish style.

The evening closed with an exclusive preview screening of the documentary “Make Air Not War,” capturing the global air guitar movement’s deeper meaning of peace, expression, and connection.

A special thank you to Kesän Sauna for providing the temporary sauna at our welcome event for all the air guitarists competing in the Air Guitar World Championships – Ilmakitaransoiton MM-kisat.
Thanks for helping us welcome individuals from around the world and giving them the opportunity to experience a beloved Finnish cultural tradition.
Kiitos!

Airientation 2025 reaffirmed a growing tradition rooted in international friendship, artistic freedom, and shared joy. The World Music School AIR is proud to carry this tradition forward in Oulu, building a home for invisible instruments and real community.

Pedro Aibéo
29.08.2025

 

Our 2025 podcast season is back

Open Mic

We are thrilled to announce the 2025 podcast series OpenMic, recorded live from the Helsinki Open Waves!

 Listen to the voices, stories, and performances of talented musicians and enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds, all coming together to celebrate the universal language of music.

 The Dates: 

26.02 at 16:00
26.03 at 17:00
30.04 at 16:00
28.05 at 16:00
25.06 at 16:00

27.08 at 16:00
24.09 at 16:00
29.10 at 16:00
26.11 at 16:00

 What to Expect:

Live performances by local and international artists.

Engaging interviews and stories that explore the journeys of musicians.

Live at: https://www.helsinkiopenwaves.com/

GRAND OPENING: World Music School AIR

GRAND OPENING: World Music School AIR

World Music School AIR

We’re excited to announce that we will be opening the first-ever permanent school for AIR music, The World Music School AIR!
The school will have its official opening on the 21st of August, while serving as one of the key stops during the Airientation day (https://airguitarworldchampionships.com/…/airientation/). This project will be seeded at the former building of Store Talo at Lipporannantie 16, 90500 Oulu , under the, also new, Gamified Cohousing Oulu (https://gamifiedcohousing.com/oulu/).
Additionally, this building and its activities will be part of the 2025 Housing Fair of the city of Oulu and will host an artistic residency this year!
We are open for partnerships, interested individuals who want to join our team, host events, and accommodate people. All press is welcomed to cover the event as well as all cultural operators are invited for coffee!
This project is in collaboration with the Air Guitar World Championships – Ilmakitaransoiton MM-kisat – Ilmakitaransoiton MM-kisat.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Open Mic with Ida Marie Jessen

Open Mic with Ida Marie Jessen

Open Mic

Tomorrow the 3rd of April 2024, we will be live in another OpenMic show. The guest will be Ida Marie Jessen.
Tune in at 13:00 at the Helsinki Open Waves-HOW website, recorded live from Kulttuurikeskus Caisa, moderated by Pedro Aibeo

#OpenMic #WMSHelsinki #WorldMusic

Open Mic show with Sami Karkar

Open Mic show with Sami Karkar

Open Mic

We have live today at 16:00 (EET), at our Open Mic show at the Helsinki Open Waves-HOW in Kulttuurikeskus Caisa, the French-Tunisien musician, Sami Karkar

Sami has been studying since 2022 at the Global Music department of Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts, Helsinki.

Also a trained scientist from his first life, Sami has previously graduated with a PhD in music acoustics from Aix-Marseille University (France), and worked several years as an academic researcher.

Revitalizing Helsinki’s Downtown

Revitalizing Helsinki’s Downtown

WMS events

The World Music School was invited by the City of Helsinki to contribute to the program of Revitalizing Downtown – summer streets and city center (Kadut Elävät). We brought on the 26.6 a series of our “Folk Dances with Live Music” events to the Finnish National Museum

We taught there how to dance some folk dances of the world. The event counted with three groups of musicians and dance teachers that played during the 2022 Juhannus celebrations. The music was acoustic, requiring no electricity.

– Ivory Coast (Africa)
– Yiddish (Europe)
– Nicaragua (America)

We believe these events are a great way to strengthen the connectedness among the different members of the participating diasporas. Enhancing the bonds between people of Helsinki is our way to participate in the city’s community. Indeed through Music and Dance people are sharing beyond simple words, they convey their own enthusiasm and energy towards each other.

The venue was held at the Finnish National Museum backyard between 13-16.

https://www.facebook.com/events/723823568671370/

Program:

13.00 – Welcoming words by Pedro Aibéo, Chairman of the World Music School

13.05 – Ivory Coast Folk Dances with Live Music (Lassina Ouattara)

14:00 – Yiddish Folk Dances with Live Music (Helsinki Klezmer Kapelye)

15:00 – Nicaraguan Folk Dances with Live Music (José Robelo and Mariano Vega) 

WMS Ivory Coast 2022 (1)

WMS Ivory Coast 2022 (2)

WMS Ivory Coast 2022 (3)

WMS Ivory Coast 2022 (4)

WMS Ivory Coast 2022 (5)

WMS Ivory Coast 2022 (6)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (1)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (2)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (3)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (4)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (5)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (6)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (7)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (8)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (9)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (10)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (11)

WMS Nicaragua 2022 (12)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (1)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (2)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (3)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (4)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (5)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (6)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (7)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (8)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (9)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (10)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (11)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (12)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (13)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (16)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (15)

WMS Yiddish 2022 (14)

All photos and videos by Pedro Aibéo 2022

International Carnaval of Ouidah

International Carnaval of Ouidah

International Partnerships

 

The World Music School Helsinki is supporting the International Carnaval of Ouidah in Benin, from the 28th till the 31st December 2023.

We are looking for experts on the following competences:

  • Visual artists for exhibition and realization of mural fresco in Ouidah. December 22 to 31, 2023
  • Carnival groups to participate in the Popular and artistic Carnival of the IOC. December 26 to 31, 2023
  • Art photographers to photograph all IOC events. From December 26 to 31, 2023.
  • Documentary directors to produce documentary films and training of young people. From December 26 to 31, 2023
  • Singing artists to collaborate with Beninese and African artists. From December 26 to 31, 2023.
  • Televisions and international media for a stay of cultural and worship report Vodun. December 27 to 31, 2023.
  • Volunteers to help and work in the Carnival organizing committee. December 23 to 31, 2023.
  • Financial and material partners (Associations, Foundation, Municipalities, companies, and patrons). From February to December 2023.

Please contact directly [email protected] for any inquires.

 

The World Music School Helsinki

04.03.2023

 

OpenMic with Colombian Cellist Sergio Castrillon

OpenMic with Colombian Cellist Sergio Castrillon

Open Mic

Next wednesday the 23 November 2022, at 16:00, we will interview live from Helsinki, the great Sergio Castrillón at the Helsinki Open Waves-HOW.
Interview will be conducted by Pedro Aibeo, in spanish.
Tune in at https://www.helsinkiopenwaves.com/

Sergio will be playing two pieces from his latest solo album GLOBAL SOUNDSCAPES.

 

Sergio Castrillon is a Multidisciplinary Sonic-based artist/researcher focused on
experimentalism. Over the last years he has been working on the creation of multi-sonic
performances and developing the notion of Multi-process creativity, taking as bases
improvisation, composition, comprovisation and soundscape. Within his last works Castrillón has
been using only domestic/recycled technology as a way to foster more sustainable and
ecological strategies in art and research making.

The new peer-reviewed paper on The World Music School

The new peer-reviewed paper on The World Music School

Publications

Just out now, a peer-reviewed academic paper on the work of the World Music School, “Observing the World Music School Helsinki as a social ecological system to enhance community connectivity and resilience”. Published at an important journal, “Systems Research and Behavioural Science”.

Click here to read it, it is of open access! 🙂 

OpenMic with Mayim Alpert

OpenMic with Mayim Alpert

Open Mic

This wednesday the 29th June 2022, at 16:00, we will interview live from Helsinki, the great Mayim Alpert at the Helsinki Open Waves-HOW.
Interview will be conducted by Pedro Aibeo, in english.
Tune in at https://www.helsinkiopenwaves.com/

Mayim Alpert is a luthier, composer and multi-instrumentalist who has created music for theatre and film as well as performing in bands across many genres from soul to klezmer. He
is a professional violin and bow maker serving string instruments players in Helsinki and around Finland, with his colleague Lauri Kallinen, at Alpert & Kallinen Fine Violins, in Töölö.
He is also interested in experimental instruments and musical sculpture, and has built unique instruments such as the räätäliira, or tailor’s lyre, from an old sewing machine, and the
runopiano, or poet’s piano, incorporating an old typewriter. He is an active musician in Krepsko Theatre Group, Helsinki Klezmer Kapelye, and Helsinki Balalaikka Orchestra,
among others. Born in the USA, he has however spent the last 20 years in Europe, primarily in Prague and Helsinki, and has 4 boys.