page_title: The Laiho Trio
section_title: The Laiho Trio in the United States
hierarchical_section_title: The Laiho Trio / The Laiho Trio in the United States
caption_attribution_description: English: A painting by Sergei Ushtenko from the Laiho Trio on concert tour in America. Oil 78 x 118 cm. Photo by Iikka Perälä.Suomi: Sergei Ushtenkon maalaus Laiho Triosta konserttimatkalla Amerikassa. Öljy 78 x 118 cm. Kuva Iikka Perälä.
context_page_description: The Laiho Trio was formed by three brothers, Altti U. Laiho, Veikko O. Laiho and Pentti K. Laiho. According to many experts, the trio was extremely unusual in its composition, repertoire, and virtuosity.
  The repertoire of the trio consisted of big symphony orchestral compositions arranged for three accordions. The brothers grew up in the city of Pori, in southwestern Finland, but they made their main career in the United States where they lived for years.
context_section_description: An opportunity to perform outside Finland opened in 1967 and The Laiho Trio made their first North American tour in the years 1968 and 1969. The wide tour stretched all over the continent, the United States and Canada. The route went from the west coast to the east coast through almost all major cities. On January 28, 1969 the Canadian newspaper Vapaa Sana (Free Press) published an article concerning the Laiho Trio's concert at International Institute in Los Angeles. Following is a quote from the article: “An enthusiastic audience received these three handsome artists with great eagerness and expectation. We had already read advertisements in advance about it that they were called the Kings of the accordion, a term that nobody should step over. We waited something special. We did not disappointed with our expectation.” The newspaper continues: “A program in Finnish manners would not be perfect without Sibelius´ Finlandia. That was the last number in the program. It is unbelievable that on three accordions it can be played so demanding work as Finlandia. But the Laiho brothers performed it completely with firm holds that the hair rose up. It sounded like a performance of a symphony orchestra. Unbelievable but true.”  The most important performances were in New York City, where they, for example, performed six times in Arthur Godfrey's CBS radio show. The shows were broadcast to millions of listeners throughout the whole continent of North America, which greatly advanced their future successful career in the United States. Godfrey was very impressed for the performances of the Laiho Trio and cried out “Wizards!”  He told to his listeners again and again that “you cannot believe but there are three of them although it sounds like a playing of one instrument, so well they play together.” 
  The second tour began in spring 1977 and now the brothers decided to stay permanently in the U.S.A. At first, they gave concerts in universities at Midwest and, at the end of the tour, they settled down in New York City, which was to be their home for decades. From New York City they made concert tours everywhere in the US without having any kind of competition from other accordionists. The Trio belonged to the artist roster of Mark Bichurin Concerts Corporation at Carnegie Hall in New York City, which arranged their concerts. This Bichurin's artist roster included many world-famous artists. The Laiho Trio was also introduced in the performing arts calendar called Musical America where accordionists had never before featured.
  The brothers’ pioneering concerts by three accordions were unique and historical. They were full-length classical concerts on the biggest stages in the world with thousands of audience. The concerts were held at concert halls, theaters, cultural centers and universities. The Trio also gave concerts at churches, for example at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, which is one of the biggest churches in the world. Charles Rissanen, a newspaper editor, wrote about this concert in Aamulehti on August 9, 1981. Following is a quote from the article: “Pori Accordionists As ´Aces´ In The USA (headline) …The Laiho's have played in big churches - for example in New York´s most well-known Saint Patrick´s Cathedral …they play classic music with their accordions and make it sound almost like a playing of a symphony orchestra. …I heard the Laiho Trio playing there in front of the altar. Magnificent it felt. The accordion symphonists filled that big church with their music.“ The International Musician published an article about the Laiho Trio in the issue  of October 1990. Following is a quote from the article: “The Laiho Trio - The First Three Accordion Symphonists (headline) … Never before it was considered that this instruments could contribute to the music programs of symphonies, operas or concertos. But in 1961 (1960), that all changed. Three brothers born in Pori, Finland, Altti, Veikko and Pentti Laiho formed the only ensemble in the world which performed symphonic orchestral music on three accordions. …They performed f
caption: A painting by Sergei Ushtenko from the Laiho Trio on concert tour in America
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