MARI KAASINEN - vocals. Original Värttinä member from Rääkkylä, in Karelia. Has been singing and performing since age 2 ½. Previously a student at Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, she now maintains a career simultaneous with Värttinä, teaching voice, kantele and accordion in Helsinki. In addition, Mari and Värttinä guitarist Antto Varilo have composed specially commissioned music for Finnish female choir.

JOHANNA VIRTANEN - vocals. Johanna studied folk music at the Central Ostrobothnian Conservatory in Kokkola and is now studying folk music and singing at Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department. Also plays harmonium, kantele and 2-row accordion. She joined Värttinä in 2001.

JANNE LAPPALAINEN - bouzouki, saxophones. Janne is another original Värttinä member from Rääkkylä and is one of the band's chief arrangers. Recently, he has also become one of the band's main composers. Janne, a student of Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department and wind instrument specialist, has played in other Finnish bands including Ottopasuuna and Progmatics.

HANNU RANTANEN - basses. Hannu Rantanen is one of Finland's top bassists. Having studied and now teaching at Helsinki Pop Jazz Conservatory and brilliantly skillful on double bass and electric bass, Hannu has been involved with numerous top Finnish outfits including UMO Big Band, Pepa Päivinen Trio, Raoul Björkenheim Triad, Avanti and Unto Tango Orchestra. Hannu has also played with international stars: Wayne Krantz, Larry Coryell, Django Bates, Anders Bergcrantz, Ted Curson and Luis de Matteo. He also does music for theatre.

MARKKU LEPISTÖ - accordions, jouhikko (3 stringed bowed lyre). From southern Ostrobothnia, one of Finland's most solid and reliable accordionists, playing folk and dance music since age five. A graduate of the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, where he studied kantele, woodwinds, double bass and fiddle, previously a member of the group Pirnales and still with Progmatics. Also works with mandolinist Petri Hakala and a klezmer band and has released a solo album.

LASSI LOGREN - fiddle. The original fiddler in Värttinä, from 1985-1989, officially rejoined the band in April 2002, although he has done several tours with Värttinä in recent years. Also playing nyckelharpa and jouhikko, Lassi graduated Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, where he also teaches fiddle, in 2002. Lassi has played in several professional theatres since 1995 and has made a book/CD called "Harmony Parts for Finnish Fiddle" in 2001.

ANTTO VARILO - guitars, cümbüs tambur (Turkish long necked lute). A professional Helsinki guitarist for the past fifteen years, Antto joined Värttinä in 1993. Has performed with numerous rock, Afro and jazz artists and bands including Hasse Walli, Badu N'Djay. He played in Finnish National Theatre and with singing star Reijo Taipale. He has also performed with guitarist Raoul Björkenheim. One of Värttinä's main composers and arrangers, Antto and Mari Kaasinen have composed specially commissioned music for Finnish female choir Philomela. In 2003 Antto produced the second album from group Burlakat.

JAAKKO LUKKARINEN - drums, percussion. One of Finland's most versatile and in-demand drummers. Skillful on a wide variety of drums and percussion instruments from around the world, Jaska has played in several Helsinki groups, recently with guitarist Jukka Tolonen.

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Värttinä: members 1983 - 2002

Minna Haikola (vocal, violin); Terhi Hirvonen (vocal, 5-string kantele); Mari Kaasinen (vocal); Sari Kaasinen (vocal, kantele, 2-row accordion); Jussi Kaasinen (vocal, 5-string kantele); Kirsi Kähkönen (vocal - Kirsi comes from Rääkkylä in Karelia, is an original Värttinä member from 1983 and has been singing with them exclusively since that time, latest appearance on the 2002 album "6. 12."); Janne Lappalainen (bouzouki, wind instruments); Pauliina Luukkanen (vocal, violin); Johanna Logren (vocal, 5-row accordion); Lassi Logren (vocal, violin, jouhikko, jew's harp); Tuomas Logren (vocal, 5-string kantele, trumpet); Nina Mononen (vocal, 10-string kantele); Heidi Pakarinen (vocal, 10-string kantele); Matleena Pekkanen (vocal, 10-string kantele); Nikko Prauda (bodhran, percussion); Minna Rautianen (vocal); Sari Tyynelä (vocal, 10-string kantele); Olli Varis (mandolin); Tapani Varis (bass, jouhikko); Jaana Vänskä (vocal, 10-string kantele); Saija Vänskä (vocal, 10-string kantele); Hirvonen (vocal, 5-string kantele); Mari Kaasinen (vocal); Sari Kaasinen (vocal, kantele, 2-row accordion); Jussi Kaasinen (vocal, 5-string kantele); Kirsi Kähkönen (vocal); Janne Lappalainen (bouzouki, wind instruments); Pekka Lehti - basses. Pekka, from Joensuu in Karelia, is one of Finland's top players, having performed with many of Finland's leading bands. Värttinä 1994 - 2002; Pauliina Luukkanen (vocal, violin); Johanna Logren (vocal, 5-row accordion); Lassi Logren (vocal, violin, jouhikko, jew's harp); Tuomas Logren (vocal, 5-string kantele, trumpet); Nina Mononen (vocal, 10-string kantele); Heidi Pakarinen (vocal, 10-string kantele); Matleena Pekkanen (vocal, 10-string kantele); Nikko Prauda (bodhran, percussion); Minna Rautianen (vocal); Kari Reiman - violin. A native of Helsinki, "Reiska" has a long history of acoustic music, including five-string banjo, mandolin and guitar with several bluegrass bands and fiddling with Finnish-Irish group Korkkijalka. Värttinä 1989 - 2002; Tyynelä (vocal, 10-string kantele); Olli Varis (mandolin); Tapani Varis (bass, jouhikko); Jaana Vänskä (vocal, 10-string kantele); Saija Vänskä (vocal, 10-string kantele).