Kuopio- the Centre of Eastern Finland

Kuopio is a thriving modern city and a developing centre for Eastern Finland, casting its influence over an area that contains 600,000 people. There are 86,000 inhabitants in Kuopio; 90% live in the city and its suburbs, and 10% in rural areas. In recent years the increase in the population has been about 500 people annually. Compared to the whole country, the average age of the population is lower than elsewhere.


Kuopion Yhteiskoulun Musiikkilukio - Kuopio Senior High School of Music and Dance

Our school is the first Finnish special high school for music and dance. The name of the school is a combination of two sources: Kuopion Yhteiskoulu (Kuopio Coeducational Secondary School), which was founded in 1892, and Kuopion Musiikkilukio (Kuopio High School of Music), which was founded in 1968. The dance curriculum was started in 1983. The present name was taken into usage in 1995.

Our school has about 230 students from the whole of Finland; about one half of the students come from outside Kuopio (most of these students live in student accommodation in Kuopio). To carry out its mission in arts education the school has a 50 per cent increase in its lesson resources in comparison to an ordinary senior high school (upper secondary school). The tuition is given mainly in groups but a lot of instrumental and singing lessons are individual. Annually our school gives 320 weekly lessons (courses); of which 170 are given in music and dance.

Everyday work

Naturally we give the standard Finnish upper secondary school education in preparation for the matriculation examination, including mathematics, languages, sciences, history etc. The music curriculum gives insights into music theory, the history of music, as well as instrumental/ group/ orchestra/ choir work. The dance curriculum is divided into two lines: classical ballet and modern dance.

To qualify for the matriculation examination and to graduate a student will have to complete 75 courses ( a course equals 38 lessons of 45 minutes) and among these there are compulsory , voluntary and applied courses. In our school at least 12 of those required 75 courses will have to be from music and/ or dance.

A student can also enter the Kuopio Conservatory of Music (there is a possibility for testing during our own entrance examination in spring). The courses completed in the Conservatory or in Senior Music High School are valid in both institutions when applicable, and thus they can be counted among the necessary 75 courses for the completion of the upper secondary school.

Our aims and values

We give our students a solid background for the Finnish matriculation examination and for later studies in arts or sciences. As an arts institution we encourage personal growth, the development of ethic and aesthetic values, and we emphasize life-long learning. All this is demonstrated in our search for spiritual growth, tolerance, trust, co-operation and respect. This forms a whole that we call " the spirit of Musiikkilukio" which can be seen as enthusiastic and creative enjoyment when working and rehearsing together.

Our vision

We are a top high school giving learning and artistic experiences that can be seen and heard in the Kuopio area and outside.

Contact us:

Kuopio Senior High School of Music and Dance                                                                                                                                                                       Minna Canthin katu 46
70100 Kuopio
E-mail: ilkka.raninen@kuopio.fi
Tel. +358 17 184 641
Gsm +358 50 3661 029
Fax +358 17 184 589