Pauliina May (born Pauliina Pohjanheimo) (born 1967) is a Finnish–Dutch vocalist and a voice teacher. She is currently resident in Kinderdijk, The Netherlands.[1]

Pauliina May
Born
Katri Pauliina Pohjanheimo

(1967-02-26) 26 February 1967 (age 57)
Helsinki, Finland
NationalityFinnish
EducationRotterdam Conservatorium
Occupation(s)Singer, Vocal teacher, Afro-Cuban and Caribbean vocals teacher
Employer(s)Pauliina May Vocal Studio, Kinderdijk and Codarts, Rotterdam

Career

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Pauliina May studied vocals and vocal pedagogy at the Pop & Jazz Conservatory, Helsinki, Finland during the years 1991–1996. She continued her music studies specializing in Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music and Argentinean Tango at the World Music Department of the Rotterdam Conservatorium, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (1996–2000). She graduated from the Rotterdam Conservatorium as a vocal pedagogue on 11 December 2000 with a diploma 9/10. After moving to The Netherlands Pauliina uses "Pauliina May" as her artist name.

Since autumn 2017 Pauliina May has been teaching Afro-Cuban and Caribbean vocals at Codarts (former Rotterdam Conservatorium).[2][3] Next to music studies Pauliina May has been dancing flamenco at the flamenco schools of Anneli Uronen in Finland 1985–1988 and Escuela de Mariquilla in Granada, Spain 1988–1989. May made a study trip to the Conservatory of Santiago de Cuba 1998. She has been studying Spanish and Spanish literature, culture and music at the Nueva Universidad de Granada 1988–1989. As a singer Pauliina May specialized herself in Afro-Cuban music already in Finland and many specialists opinioned her to be one of the best interpreter of the Afro-Cuban genre in Finland.[4][5][6] She made also concerts in jazz genre in Finland.[7] Beside her mother tongue Finnish, May speaks Spanish, English and Dutch. She studied as well Portuguese and French.

Competitions and rewards

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In 1993 Pauliina May won the second prize of the Finnish jazz competition Lady Summertime. In 2001 she took part of the Erasmus Jazz Price –competition held for all instrumentalists in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where she was rewarded with the second prize with trombonist Louk Boudesteijn winning the first.[8]

Orchestras

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In Finland Pauliina May has performed with various orchestras: UMO Jazz Orchestra, Jazztiikerit, Pauliina's Bounce, Pauliina May Jazz Quintet, El Septeto,[9] Septeto Son, Fiestecita,[10] Grupo Aché, Sami y Su Conjunto,[11] Son Sabroson. In The Netherlands with Lucas van Merwijk & The Cubop City Big Band, Azucaraba, Pauliina y La Banda IrÉ, Son Caribe, Rumbatá, Saoco Masters of Salsa.

Pauliina May has been invited as a guest vocalists with Big Bands, like Turku Big Band (2000), UMO Jazz Orchestra (2002), in The Netherlands and Romanian Radio Big Band in Bucharest (2006–2007), Oulunkylä Pop&Jazz Big Band (Helsinki, Finland) and Rotterdam Conservatory Big Band (The Netherlands).

Performances

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TV-performances

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  • Concert: Siihen ei ole sanoja (There Are No Words for It) YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company) TV1, music series Sinun tähtesi – Your Star: Pauliina Pohjanheimo, 1996. Music of Composer Toni Edelmann into the poems of Poet Veijo Baltzar.[18]
  • 1997 May appeared in the TV series by YLE TV1 of the Afro-Cuban music in Finland: Hei, Mambo!
  • In The Netherlands Pauliina May has been appearing in TV: t' Pakhuis/NPS (2001), together with percussionist Martin Verdonk and at the Klokhuis/VPRO, together with Son Caribe -orchestra.
  • 2008 live broadcast of the Geuzen Medal Award (Geuzenpenning) from The Church Vlaardingen. Three compositions of Izak Boom into the poems of Eino Leino. Kijk tv / Look TV, The Netherlands.
  • 1998 in Curaçao TV she performed together with Azucaraba-salsa group.

Discography

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  • El Septeto: Somos El Septeto, Helsinki, Mipu Music (MIPUCD202)
  • Siihen ei ole sanoja (PAUCD 001). Pauliina Pohjanheimo – vocals, Tessa Virta – piano, Olli Peuhu – bass. Compositions Toni Edelmann, poems Veijo Baltzar. 1994. (Finland). Producers Olli Peuhu, Pauliina and Erkki Pohjanheimo) [19]
  • Azucaraba: Caminos por andar, Via Records 9920462, The Netherlands 1998. Azucaraba featuring Pauliina May.[20]
  • Son Sabroson y C.H.A.: Entre salsa y son. Alba Records / FG-Naxos, 2004.
  • Aina Leino (BMCD 496). Aina featuring Pauliina May. Compositions Izak Boom into poems of Eino Leino. Publisher Munich Records, The Netherlands, 2005.
  • Salsa Mundial – Gerardo Rosales (WBL044). A Finnish tango Rakastan, rakastan, rakastan salsa version Rakastan (comp & lyrics by Veikko Niittynen, arrangement by Mika ToivanenThomas Böttcher) Publisher Callejero Music Productions, The Netherlands/Venezuela, 2008[20]

Family

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Pauliina's mother is Arja Pohjanheimo and her father Erkki Pohjanheimo. Her sister is a Finnish Actress Petriikka Pohjanheimo.

References

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  1. ^ "Welcome to Vocalist Pauliina May". www.pauliinamay.com.
  2. ^ Suur-Keuruu, Finnish newspaper 16 November 2017: "Pauliina May afrokuubalaisen musiikin opettajaksi Rotterdamiin" (Pauliina May teaches Afro-Cuban music in Rotterdam)
  3. ^ "Teachers World Music". www.codarts.nl. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017.
  4. ^ Luhtala, Pertti: Rumbakuninkaista salsatähtiin (From Rumba Kings to Salsa Stars), p 382, WSOY 1997, ISBN 951-0-22113-9, Finland
  5. ^ Rytmi newspaper, Finland 1/2005, Mikko Saarela: Son Sabroson & C.H.A
  6. ^ Helsingin Sanomat, Finnish newspaper 23 January 1995: ″Salsa soi nyt suomalaisin voimin″ (Salsa is now playing with Finnish resources)
  7. ^ Helsingin Sanomat, Finnish newspaper 23 January 1995: ″Vahva tulkitsija tulossa″ (A strong interpreter coming)
  8. ^ Helsingin Sanomat, Finnish newspaper 21 March 2001: "Pauliina Pohjanheimo jazzfinaaliin" (Pauliina Pohjanheimo to the jazz finale)
  9. ^ Helsingin Sanomat, Finnish newspaper 13 February 1995: Tasokas musiikki ja tanssin riemu yhdistyivät (The high-quality music and the joy of dance were combined)
  10. ^ Helsingin Sanomat, Finnish newspaper 13 February 1995: "Tasokas musiikki ja tanssin riemu yhdistyivät"
  11. ^ Helsingin Sanomat, Finnish newspaper 10 February 1996: Salsa soi viikonloppuna suomalaisvoimin Helsingissä (During the weekend, Salsa played in Helsinki with Finnish forces)
  12. ^ Helsingin Sanomat, Finnish newspaper 23 January 1995: "Salsa soi nyt suomalaisin voimin"
  13. ^ "1999 Program (Marc Bisschoff's La Banda Ire)". North Sea Jazz Festival.
  14. ^ Helsingin Sanomat, Finnish newspaper, 13 January 2002: "UMOn salsakonsertti oli menestys" (The UMO salsa concert was a success)
  15. ^ Kainuun Sanomat 4 July 2006: "Aina-yhtye vie Eino Leinon sanoituksia maailmalle" ("Aina-band takes Eino Leino's lyrics to the world")
  16. ^ "Martti Ahtisaari Receives Peace Prize". 14 March 2008.
  17. ^ Turun Sanomat, Finnish newspaper, 12 March 2017: "Lattarien poljento yhdisti jazzin ja tanssin fanit" (The creeps of the Latin Music united fans of jazz and dance
  18. ^ Helsingin Sanomat, Finnish newspaper, 16 March 1996: "Siihen ei ole sanoja – Pauliina Pohjanheimo"
  19. ^ Ilta-Sanomat Päivyri, Finnish newspaper, 16 February 1994: Pauliina Pohjanheimo laulaa itseään huipulle (Pauliina Pohjanheimo sings herself to the top)
  20. ^ a b "Fono.fi – Äänitetietokanta".
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