Kuparikielet

Meet Kuparikielet, the Finnish American Folk School’s youth folk dance band based in Hancock, Michigan.

The band, formed in the autumn of 2025, brings together eight middle and high schoolers to play folk dance music. Along the way they’re learning how to arrange different types of music, how to play for dancers, the ins and outs of being in a band, and so much more. In English, their name means Copper Strings, giving a nod to their home base in Michigan’s Copper Country and the area’s Finnish roots.

In 2026, thanks to support from the Keweenaw Community Foundation and the Northwoods Music Collaborative, regional musicians have been mentoring students as they build a repertoire and begin to perform.

Upcoming Performances

Saturday, May 16, 2026, 6-6:30pm – Carnegie Museum, Night at the Museum, Houghton, MI

June 17-20, 2026, timing TBA – Juhannus Summer Solstice Celebration, Hancock, MI

Past Performances

February 2026, with White Water – Community Dance, Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock, MI

January 2026 – Heikinpäivä Midwinter Festival, Hancock, MI

December 2025 – Finnish Independence Day Observance, Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock, MI

November 2025 – International Children’s Festival, Portage Lake District Library, Houghton, MI