Tiirismaa High School

Music oriented high school

Tiirismaa High School offers all the general high school courses, but is authorized by the national government to also specialize in music.

The school offers a wide selection of languages, including advanced Swedish, English and Russian (seven years of studies) and Latin, among others.  One can take 15 courses of advanced mathematics and seven courses of chemistry. In Information Technology we strive to meet the most recent challenges in that area.

In addition to regular high school classes in both the applied and in-depth levels, the school offers creative writing, European literature, speech communication, drama, sound and light technique, ancient history and an active international exchange program. The international classes have an exchange program which alternates annually between a Nordic country and a Central European country.

Course descriptions (pdf)


Our school has baroque, folk and entertainment music orchestras and students’ bands. Girl choir and mixed choir practice on a regular basis and it is possible to join these groups also from the general studies line after passing the audition. Music and art classes together produce music theatre productions.

Basic studies
The extent of basic studies in music is five courses and they are compulsory for those studying in the music class. The aim is to acquire and develop general knowledge and skills in music. In all courses the aim is to sing and play instruments actively and also to follow contemporary music life.

Other studies

Tonic solfa and the theory of music
Development of musical literacy.
Theory of music on different levels.

Versatile choir music from Bach to pop
Vocal training

Solo singing
In-depth studies of the principals of voice and the use of individual and natural singing voice. Preparation for stage performances.

Band singing
In band singing students learn to sing a cappella. The singers form a group together. The repertoire is  versatile, from pop to classical.

Instrumental instruction
Developing technical aspects in playing an instrument.

Bands, chamber music, different instrumental combinations.

Free accompaniment
The use of musical chords, their inversions and chord combinations, writing chords for music, playing from written music and by the ear. Transposing, accompaniment and improvisation.

Computer music
The use of Finale programs with computers.
Sound studio work with Pro Tools program.

A music class student must elect at least 12 courses of music in high school.


Students apply in the secondary level joint application system. The applicants must also fill in a special optional subjects card which can be obtained from Tiirismaan lukio and is returned with appendices to the school office.

There is no separate invitation to the entrance tests and the school will not send information to possible applicants about the tests.

( All instruction given in Finnish – so far )

Principal Leena Akola
tel 050-5597834
Study councellor Riikka Huikuri
tel 050-5391679
School office
tel 03-8144314


Lahden Suomalainen Tyttökoulu (The Finnish School for Girls in Lahti) was founded in the fall of 1908. At first it had three teachers and 23 students and soon it grew to comprise five classes. This private Finnish girl school strengthened the positive attitude the young city of Lahti had towards education and Mr Lyytikäinen, the city mayor was the founder and supporter of the school. The school had its own supporters’ association and board.

The school started on Loviisankatu in a house called Rukoushuone (The Prayer House), which was not intended for school use. The school followed the state girl schools curriculum, with an emphasis on foreign languages. The first headmistress, Elina Kanervio, developed a new subject, home economics, which the senior class started in 1912 as almost the first school in Finland. Another important subject was textiles and the main foreign language was German.

When Finland gained her independence the rules of the Russian Empire were left behind and new curricula were adopted. As the school building got a new owner and the lease ended, Tyttökoulun Talo Oy (Girl School House Ltd) was founded in 1922 to build a new school. It was designed by Professor Eliel Saarinen who at the same time had won fame in the United States. A beautiful red brick school house was finished on Harjukatu in the spring of 1923 and as far as is known it is the only school building by Saarinen that has been completed in Finland.

The activities of the school and the school building are closely connected. With the new building, the girl school could grow and develop. First the school expanded to comprise six classes of middle school and then was allowed to add a 3-year-long high school thus forming a 9-year Tyttölyseo (The Lyceum for Girls). The first students matriculated in spring 1928 and the school grew along with the city. In Tipala, as the school was called, students sang and acted a lot in school plays and gradually a special, good school spirit developed. According to the new curriculum of 1948 it was possible to choose either language or mathematics oriented studies.

The war years afflicted the school. Students had to leave the school when a war hospital took their place. After the war the school continued to grow and even though it was expanded three times it was soon too crowded with its 800 students. A third phase in the history of the school commenced when a new school building was erected on Ursanmäki in 1964. After he won an architectural competition, Keijo Petäjä designed a school with room for special classes and various activities.

Great changes started at the end of the 1960s. First Tyttölyseo became an 8-year Tiirismaan yhteiskoulu (The Tiirismaa coeducational secondary school) which then started admitting also boys. The whole school system in Finland changed, and Lahti adopted the new system of comprehensive school in 1975. Tiirismaa school had three classes of upper comprehensive school and a 3-year- high school, both of which belonged to the Lahti city educational system. The school building was still owned by Tyttökoulun Talo Oy. Two headmasters led the school starting from 1975.

Both the comprehensive school and high school specialized in music and art, with textiles closely connected. The era of choir visits started in the 1980s and concerts were organized actively. More languages were offered, the advanced studies possible in English, Swedish and Russian. Other foreign languages included French, German and Latin.

There were more and more international programs in the 1990s. At the moment the school has contacts with the Nordic countries, Holland, Germany, Russia and Japan, among others. Students from many countries visit Tiirismaa high school.
Tiirismaa school has had English classes, ten comprehensive school classes, since 2000. A new annex was built for this group. In 2008 there were approximately 1010 students in the whole school and about 80 teachers. MA Liisa Pohjolainen and MA Tuula Virtanen lead the school.

The spirit of the school is still strong and can be seen in everyday work. The school year 2008-2009 is our 100th anniversary, a year of celebration.

Saara Hakaste & Riitta Niskanen:
Tyttökoulusta Tipala, Tipalasta Tiirismaa
Lahden Suomalaisen Tyttökoulun, Tyttölyseon ja Tiirismaan koulun historia 1908 %u2013 2008

Summary translated by MA Asta Kotiaho