Sinikka Langeland

Sinikka Langeland (born 13 January 1961 in Grue, Norway) is a Norwegian traditional folk singer and musician (playing the kantele), known for combining traditional music with elements of jazz.

Langeland plays the Finnish National Instrument kantele, but she is also known for her "runesanger" and traditional "kveding".

Langeland also teaches these instruments and song techniques.

In 1996 Langeland was awarded Finnskogprisen.

Langeland was nominated for Spellemannprisen (1997) in the class Traditional folk music, for the album Strengen var af røde guld and Spellemannprisen (2000) in the class Traditional folk music/traditional dance music, for the album Lille Rosa.

For the release Runoja she received the prestigious Edvardprisen in the class Music in the borderland in 2003.

Together with Ove Berg she received the Norwegian-Finnish Cultural Fund Award in 2004 and in 2010 she was the trecipient of the Gammleng-prisen in the class Traditional folk music.

She contributed on Dølajazz 2006 with poems by Hans Børli, performed together with the jazz musicians Arve Henriksen and Trygve Seim, as well as the Finnish musician Markku Ounaskari.

Langeland lives in Grue at Finnskogen.

The work "Sammas Himmelsøyle" by langeland, was premiered with Trio Mediæval and Sinikka Langelands Ensemble Finnskogutstillingen in March 2012.

This work is based on Finnish mythology, and was commissioned for Finnskogutstillingen.

The week after the premiere the work was performed again in "Gamle Aker kirke", during the Oslo International Church Music Festival.

In 2012 she received the Sibeliusprisen by Sibelius company in Norway.

John Kellman of the All About Jazz magazine recognized Sinikka Langeland Ensemble's appearance at Vossajazz March 2013, as no. 2 of his "Best Live Shows of 2013".