Yrjö Award Concert at Tampere Jazz Happening
The Yrjö Prize, awarded by the Finnish Jazz Federation, is the most prestigious recognition in Finnish jazz, given to an accomplished Finnish jazz musician. Since 1967, the Jazz Federation has awarded the Yrjö Prize as part of the National Jazz Days, an event that brings together the federation’s members. For the 12th consecutive year, the prize ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Tampere Jazz Happening.
The 2025 Yrjö Award recipient will be announced at Tampere’s Paja Kongressi on Friday, October 31, at 7:00 PM as part of the Tampere Jazz Happening program. Following the ceremony, the award-winning artist will perform a short concert. Concert tickets for the Yrjö ceremony are not sold separately; the event is included in the Friday program at Paja Kongressi.
A detail from the artwork by visual artist Inka Bell, which will be presented as the 2025 Yrjö Award. Photo: Paavo Lehtonen
The Yrjö Award includes an artwork by a different visual artist each year. This year’s piece is made by Inka Bell. Bell has recently exhibited her works at the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and the Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA). Bell received the William Thuring Main Prize in 2024.
Since 1988, the Finnish Jazz Federation has also awarded the discretionary Andania Award for significant, long-term contributions to Finnish jazz. In 2023, the Jazz Federation introduced the annual Taimi Award, awarded to a young musician passionately developing their musical expression. The Taimi Award includes performance opportunities at three Finnish jazz festivals, which this year are the Porvoo Jazz Festival, SaloJazz Festival, and the Jazz-Espa Festival organized by the Jazz Federation.
At the awards ceremony, Yle’s Jazzradio will also present its own Shadow Yrjö Award, honoring contributions to jazz culture.
Cover photo: The 2024 Yrjö Award recipient, bassist Antti Lötjönen, performing at his award concert. Photo: Maarit Kytöharju.