Church music, master
Gain qualifications for a church musician post within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland or focus, for example, on early childhood education, solo musicianship, gospel music, or choral conducting.
Why study here?
Come and study at one of the best performing arts universities in the world! We provide the highest level of church music training that prepares you for working in diverse expert roles and development positions. Besides focusing on your musical skills, you will also improve your knowledge of pedagogy, theology and research.
Content and objective of the programme
As a master’s student, you will increase your knowledge and skills in instrument studies and research. You will choose an area of specialisation: choral conducting, singing, organ music, or research. You can carry out a project or design your own unique module of artistic studies. The degree requirements include a written work and a thesis project.
You can also choose courses organised by the other two academies of Uniarts Helsinki and complete joint studies that are available for all students.
Versatile career opportunities
After completing a degree in church music, you can work in diverse expert roles and development positions. You can also work as a musician, pedagogue, or a researcher. As a cantor in a parish, you are in charge of planning and performing the music for church services. You can also work as a singer, musician or conductor in the field of church music. Church musicians also work as performers, composers and researchers.
In addition to educability, the applicant must have good musical skills and knowledge and motivation for church music studies. The degree programmes in Kuopio and Helsinki have the same entrance examination.
Learn more about our instruments
Since autumn 2011, the Sibelius Academy’s church and organ music programmes have had the opportunity to use the Helsinki Music Centre’s Organo Hall. The hall’s three organs are available there for teaching and concerts. Various organs are also available for students’ use at the Sibelius Academy’s N-building on Nervanderinkatu in Helsinki as well as in Kuopio at the Kuopio Music Centre and at Hermanni. Classes are also held in churches in cooperation with parishes in the Helsinki area and in Kuopio.
Teachers
Our teachers are some of the best experts in their respective fields. In addition to the permanent teaching staff, we welcome top international professionals as guests on a regular basis.
Professor
-
Timo Kiiskinen
- Professor, organ improvisation, organ, liturgical playing, Church music and organ (Helsinki), Sibelius Academy
- +358451124011
- timo.kiiskinen@uniarts.fi
Doctoral studies
You can complete a licentiate and a doctoral degree at Uniarts Helsinki as a third-cycle degree. After graduating with a master’s degree, you can apply for doctoral studies in music and specialise in research-oriented, artistic or applied doctoral studies.
Find out more
Target degree and length of study
Master of Music (MMus)
2,5 years
Application period
Next possible time to apply is in January 2025. Studies begin in August 2025.
Application languages
English, Finnish, Swedish
Read more about the language skill requirements
Tuition fee
From August 2025, the annual tuition fee is € 12,000 for students who are studying in English and come from outside the EU and EEA countries.
Supervising teacher
-
Timo Kiiskinen
Professor, organ improvisation, organ, liturgical playing, Church music and organ (Helsinki), Sibelius Academy+358451124011timo.kiiskinen@uniarts.fi -
Seppo Kirkinen
Lecturer, church music, working life skills, learning and teaching music, Church music (Kuopio), Sibelius Academy+358407104369seppo.kirkinen@uniarts.fi
Unit
Sibelius Academy
Ask about applying
Why study here?
Come and study at one of the best performing arts universities in the world! We provide the highest level of church music training that prepares you for working in diverse expert roles and development positions. Besides focusing on your musical skills, you will also improve your knowledge of pedagogy, theology and research.
Content and objective of the programme
As a master’s student, you will increase your knowledge and skills in instrument studies and research. You will choose an area of specialisation: choral conducting, singing, organ music, or research. You can carry out a project or design your own unique module of artistic studies. The degree requirements include a written work and a thesis project.
You can also choose courses organised by the other two academies of Uniarts Helsinki and complete joint studies that are available for all students.
Versatile career opportunities
After completing a degree in church music, you can work in diverse expert roles and development positions. You can also work as a musician, pedagogue, or a researcher. As a cantor in a parish, you are in charge of planning and performing the music for church services. You can also work as a singer, musician or conductor in the field of church music. Church musicians also work as performers, composers and researchers.
In addition to educability, the applicant must have good musical skills and knowledge and motivation for church music studies. The degree programmes in Kuopio and Helsinki have the same entrance examination.
Learn more about our instruments
Since autumn 2011, the Sibelius Academy’s church and organ music programmes have had the opportunity to use the Helsinki Music Centre’s Organo Hall. The hall’s three organs are available there for teaching and concerts. Various organs are also available for students’ use at the Sibelius Academy’s N-building on Nervanderinkatu in Helsinki as well as in Kuopio at the Kuopio Music Centre and at Hermanni. Classes are also held in churches in cooperation with parishes in the Helsinki area and in Kuopio.
Teachers
Our teachers are some of the best experts in their respective fields. In addition to the permanent teaching staff, we welcome top international professionals as guests on a regular basis.
Professor
-
Timo Kiiskinen
- Professor, organ improvisation, organ, liturgical playing, Church music and organ (Helsinki), Sibelius Academy
- +358451124011
- timo.kiiskinen@uniarts.fi
Doctoral studies
You can complete a licentiate and a doctoral degree at Uniarts Helsinki as a third-cycle degree. After graduating with a master’s degree, you can apply for doctoral studies in music and specialise in research-oriented, artistic or applied doctoral studies.