Communities make LUT more than just a place to study

Community is built outside the lecture hall

Lehto describes her time at LUT as unique and emphasises the important role students themselves play in shaping university culture.

"You can leave LUT, but LUT never leaves you. I will always be grateful for the experience I had as a student. I think, extracurricular activities are exactly what help build the sense of community that is so important to us. Through clubs and associations, students also have the opportunity to develop critical skills for the workplace," Lehto stresses.

Alongside major concerts, one of Lehto’s most memorable experiences was the Nordic Student Singers' Summit (NSSS), a choir festival bringing together student choirs from the Nordic and Baltic countries. The event was held in Tartu, Estonia, in 2014.

"We sang the Finlandia Hymn together with a choir of a thousand singers. I remember singing and crying at the same time because it was so moving to share that moment with so many people and to perform such an important piece for Finland alongside talented fellow singers from around the world," Lehto says.

Lehto says that through the choir she gained close friends, extensive networks, and a sense of balance and well-being during her busy student years. As an alumna, she has enjoyed following the choir's continued development and has attended events such as anniversary celebrations. She has also received valuable professional support from former choir mates throughout her career.

"A choir is a unique place to gain friends, networks, and unforgettable experiences. LUT offers such a wide range of clubs and associations that everyone is sure to find their own community. At their best, they are important sources of joy and support students' wellbeing and mental health," she concludes.

A lifelong community that endures beyond graduation

When Sohlman talks about Teekkarilaulajat, it is clear that the choir has a strong ethos of entertaining others, something he believes has also benefited him greatly in his professional life.

"Choir provides excellent performance experience and the ability to think on your feet, both of which are genuinely valuable in the professional world. Teekkarilaulajat has a strong culture of entertaining, and that skill can be useful in surprising situations, such as client meetings and events. It's about creating a positive atmosphere and helping others enjoy themselves without necessarily being the centre of attention," Sohlman explains.

Like Lehto, Sohlman names the NSSS festival among his most memorable choir experiences. He also highlights LUT University's 40th anniversary celebration, where Teekkarilaulajat warmed up the audience for the Finnish pop rock band Sunrise Avenue at the Lappeenranta indoor arena. Yet for him, the most valuable outcome of choir life is unmistakable: lifelong friendships.

"The choir has given me lifelong friends with whom I've shared different stages of life. One of my fellow singers and I served as each other's best man, and we share godparent responsibilities within this circle of friends. Teekkarilaulajat truly is a lifelong community," Sohlman says.

Teekkarilaulajat truly is a lifelong community.

Sohlman refers to his choir friends as “gig machines" and says they still meet regularly, even though more than a decade has passed since their student days.

"I've stayed particularly close with the members of the choir who now live in the Helsinki metropolitan area. We meet every few months and visit public saunas together in Helsinki. The Teekkarilaulajat spirit in each of us always comes alive whenever we're together," Sohlman says.

He also emphasises how rewarding it is to spend time with newer generations of choir members. According to him, all Teekkarilaulajat members have two things in common: a love of singing and a dorky sense of humor.

"Even if you weren't in the choir at the same time, it's incredibly easy to connect and spend time together. You don't need to build trust from scratch because, in a way, it's already there thanks to the choir experience," he says.

Like Resonanssi alumna Mia Lehto, Sohlman talks about the joy of singing and notes that the true value of a choir – or any meaningful community – often becomes fully clear only in hindsight.

"Working together, committing to the activity and practicing a bit of discipline are the keys to lifelong friendships. I hope the choir provides its current and future members with a meaningful community, plenty of performance experience and tons of joy from singing and entertaining."