MetaLAB:

CLOWN CHORUS

2026

(Enrollments due by the 15.1.2026)

KEY WORDS

Clown Chorus, choir singing with clown voices, red nose, choir camp, weekly meetings, concerts

TO WHOM

The Clown Chorus is looking for a complement to its harmonic ranks, from alto to coloratura soprano, whiskey basses are also considered.

Our long-term goal is to create a strong, committed core group, with whom it would also be possible to gig in the future. So we hope that the choir members could commit to the activity for at least one year at a time.

The choir is aimed at performers who already have a touch with their own personal clown. It doesn't matter where you are on your clowning journey, what school you come from, or whether you are an experienced clown or just at the beginning of your clowning journey. Each clown's contribution to the choir's collective vitality is unique and important.

If you don't have clowning experience yet, but the clown choir attracts you as a singer, we recommend that you take a basic clown course either before the choir starts or during the beginning of the year, because we don't focus on the basics of clowning in the choir rehearsals.

As for musical skill level, the clown choir is open to singers of all abilities. We highly appreciate all your pre-existing musicality and skills -even the odd ones.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Choir camp 

The 2026 clown choir will be launched at a long weekend choir camp at the Art Residence  SäVäri in Sastamala (3h from Helsinki towards wilderness) The purpose of the choir camp is to bring together the new and old members of the choir and to get to know the unique universes of our clowns and to prepare for the coming year in camp conditions. So what does this camp conditions mean? Landing in the peace of the countryside, snuggling in bunk beds, clown singing moments in the sauna, guided clown and singing training and having wonderful dining moments with a group.

Säväri's homepage

Weekly choir meetings 

In Helsinki, in the rehearsal room of Teatteri Metamorfoosi, the choir continues to tune the group harmony and develop the repertoire with regular, three-hour weekly choir rehearsals. The exercises are a mixture of movement and singing, with and without noses. There will be no shortage of laughter!

Concerts 

The Clown Choir performs at least twice a year, at the end of the spring and fall semesters. We also seek to perform at a few other events and, when the opportunity arises, we also do commissioned gigs for companies/communities. Lineups may vary depending on the order.

Last year, in 2025, the Clown Choir performed at the Open Stage of the Hurjaruuth Clown Festival in Punainen Helmi, at Kääntöpaika in Toukola, at Kotorannanpuisto during the Tuusula Arts Night, at the Choir Tour as part of the grand choir, as well as at the Harju 8 bar and restaurant El Fanti courtyard, at a few private corporate events, and at the end of the autumn at the Clown Matinee at the Nukketeatteritalo in Pakila.

CHORUS LEADERS

IIKA HARTIKAINEN

Iika Hartikainen is a member of Teatteri Metamorfoosi and a performer in the free field of art. She graduated as a theater instructor in 2013 and has since worked in professional productions of mask and physical theater, in projects that apply the arts, and as a trainer. Hartikainen has also worked as a singer and music composer for a long time and combines it in her work in the theater as well.

Her clown Nolja Kekkonen is used to toiling in the background but does not mind if she happens to get into the limelight. Nolja has been a member of the clown choir since its foundation and sometimes also acts as an accompanist.

SOILE MÄKELÄ

Founder and co-leader of the Clown Chorus. Soile Mäkelä (TeM) is a long-time mask theater professional who explores the world with physical theater as a teacher, director or performer. Her clown Halla Kalma sings in the clown choir and plays the urn jar.

Homepage

LANGUAGE

Language of the songs might variate, but the teaching is in Finnish, or English if needed

SCHEDULES

SPRING 2026

Choir Camp

In Sastamala, Art Residency SäVäri 30.1.–1.2.2026

Preliminary schedule

Fri 30.1. Departure from Helsinki at approximately 3 pm and arrival in Säväri at 6 pm, dinner, sauna

Sat 31.1. Breakfast, practices 10-17, lunch between practice days, dinner, Clown Sauna

Sun 1.2. Breakfast, rehearsals 10-13, lunch, departure from Säväri to Helsinki at approx. 14:00

Weekly Meetings in Helsinki

In the spring we meet on Tuesdays 17:30-20:45, a total of 13 times.

February 3/10/24 (note: no training on winter break 17.2.)

March 3/10/17/24/31

April 7/14/21(runtrough) (note: no meeting on April 28)

May 5 (runtrough) /12 (final concert of spring)

AUTUMN 2026

In the fall, we meet on Tuesdays 17:30-20:45 , a total of 12 times.

August 18/25 + Tour of the Choirs Thu 20.8.

September 1/8/15/22/29

October 6/13 + 

Clown Matinee general rehearsal on Friday 16.10. 

• Technical walkthrough with MetaPLATFORM: clown course participants 10-15 and 
• General rehearsal for audience at 15:00

Clown Matinee performance on Saturday 17.10.

• Preparation for the performance from 12-15 
• Public presentation at 15:00
• The estimated duration of the clown matinee, including intermissions, is 2.5 hours, followed by feedback, party and cleanup.

NOTE: There may also be commissioned gigs during the year.

VENUES

Choir camp

Art residency SäVäri

Hako-Ojantie 25

Sastamala 38510

Map

Weekly choir meetings

Teatteri Metamorfoosi / Point Fixe

Suvilahdenkatu 10 a 4th floor

00500 Helsinki

Metro: Kalasatama or Sörnäinen

Map

REQUESTS

Education coordinator

Soile Mäkelä

soile(at)metamorfoosi.com

W e l c o m e !

(Teatteri Metamorfoosi reserves all the rights to make changes)