The Laiho Trio was formed by three brothers, Altti Uolevi Laiho (8 April 1939 Pori – 20 January 2017 Ulvila), Veikko Olavi Laiho (31 December 1942 Pori) and Pentti Kalevi Laiho (21 July 1944 Pori). According to many experts, the trio was extremely unusual in its composition, repertoire, and virtuosity.Musical America: "First Time In The History Of Music" International Directory Of The Performing Arts 1983, p. 81.The International Musician: "The Laiho Trio - The First Three Accordion Symphonists" (Headline) Article October 1990, p. 8, New York.Tony Chiapparin, composer, professor: "An ensemble of the very highest class and, I believe, unique of its kind. This formation of young virtuosos will always enrapture its audience." Letter January 1971, Paris. Joonas Kokkonen, member of the Academy of Finland, professor, composer: "On account of what I have heard I can say that the Laiho Brothers represent a high professional standard as virtuosos of their instrument. Their technical skill is extremely reliable, their ensemble playing accurate and well balanced and their rhythm treatment clear-cut and vivacious. The performances give evidence of a natural sense of music which avoids all unnecessary exaggerations. In their own field the Laiho Trio is an excellent ensemble." Letter August 1973, Järvenpää. The repertoire of the trio consisted of big symphony orchestral compositions arranged for three accordions.Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor: "I have been extremely impressed with your powers of making three accordions sound like a full orchestra." Letter, July 1973, London. 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.
Early life They were mainly self-educated artists having their own technique and style. Progressing in playing skills they got interested in performing more demanding orchestral music and founded the accordion trio in 1960.
There was no repertoire available for them because nobody had composed or arranged material for three accordions. So arrangements had to be tailored especially for the trio. The very first arrangements for the trio were made by Yrjö Honkanen, Matti Viljanen and George de Godzinsky. The main classical repertoire was transcribed from orchestral scores by Tony Chiapparin, a French professor and composer. Later on, the brothers also arranged material by themselves. The repertoire consisted mainly of large orchestral compositions such as Beethoven's Symphony Nr 5, Coriolanus and Egmont overtures, Mozart's Symphony Nr 40, Sibelius' Finlandia and Karelia suite, Tchaikovsky's music from the Swan Lake, Sarasate's Gipsy Air, Saint-Saëns' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Paganini's Moto Perpetuo and Le Sreghe, von Suppé's the Light Cavalry overture, Johann Strauss’ the Bat overture etc.
Besides performing activities, radio shows played an important role in their career. During the years 1960–1974 the brothers recorded dozens of radio shows for the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE.Radio programs for the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE (for example November 22, 1966 at 9.25 P.M. and on November 30, 1966 at 9.00 P.M.).
The Laiho Trio in the United States
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,Industrialisti: ”Suomalaiset harmonikka-kuninkaat Amerikassa” (´Finnish accordion kings in America´. eng.) (Headline) Article February 7, 1969 p. 4. 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.” Vapaa Sana: ”Laihon Veljekset konsertoimassa” (´The Laiho Brothers on concert tour´. eng.) (Headline) Article January 28, 1969. 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.”Letter from consul John O. Virtanen March 3, 1969. 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.Musical America 1971 edition p. 205.
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.Joe L. Wheeler, Ph.D.: "Seldom have I seen our audience as appreciative as they were for your splendid performance! You received a steady enthusiastic applause all the way through the concert--and that is unusual--and then two standing ovations at the end; not many concerts end with even one. You have a unique orchestral sound and you should be able to find a niche in the U.S. concert circuit. I know we hope to have you back with us again." Letter May 1977, SWAU Keene, Texas (Wheeler refers to the concert of the Laiho Trio held in the big Leiske-Pultar Auditorium). 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.“Aamulehti: "Porin hanuristit 'assina' USA:ssa" ('Pori Accordionists As 'Aces' In The USA', eng.) (Headline) Article August 9, 1981, p. 8. 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 for audiences of thousands, the same as the concert world´s superstars.”The International Musician: "The Laiho Trio - The First Three Accordion Symphonists" (Headline) Article October 1990, p. 8, New York.
The Laiho Trio also performed in the TV and radio shows of the broadcasting companies of ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, WOR, and WNYC. These shows were aired continent wide. The trio performed also several one-hour live concerts at WQXR, a radio station owned by The New York Times. This station is considered to be the best radio station in America for classical music. The concerts were led by Robert Sherman who made comments about the concerts to the radio listeners and for the performances of the Laiho Trio he said: “Great, brilliant, most unusual treat!”Musical America: "First Time In The History Of Music" International Directory Of The Performing Arts 1983, p. 81.New Yorkin Uutiset: ”Laiho Trio Finntownissa on konserttimaailman harvinaisuus” (´The Laiho Trio in the Finn Town is a rarity of the concert world´, eng.) (Headline) Article September 10. 1991 p. 10, 11. In November 1982, the Laiho Trio was honored to perform for Carl Gustav XVI and Silvia, the King and Queen of Sweden, during their visit to New York City.Nordstjernan Svea November 18.1982. Article in the front page.
After the death of their manager, the brothers started to handle their concert arrangements by themselves. A wide concert tour to Europe and China was under way. But then Pentti's hearing was weakened. He underwent a surgery but, unfortunately, with poor results, his hearing did not improve to normal. The brothers’ amazing career as a performing trio was over.
At that point, the brothers decided to utilize their experiences as performing artists for composition and started to study music theory and composing in The City University of New York. They each graduated as Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Veikko in 1990, Altti and Pentti in 1995 and Master of Music (M.M.) in the year 2000. In addition to this Veikko also graduated as Master of Arts in Teaching Music (M.A.T.) in 1992.Amerikan Uutiset: ”Laiho Trio ylti taas uusiin saavutuksiin” (´The Laiho Trio achieved again new attainments´, eng.) (Headline) Article July 15, 1999 p. 3. The brothers got several awards due to their successful studies. In October 1993 they were nominated as members of The Golden Key International Honor Society, which invites the best students from American universities to be their members. In The City University of New York they had several famous composers as their teachers. One was the most famous American composer John Corigliano.
Although the brothers’ career as accordion artists in the U.S. ended, they moved along into composing and their work with music continues as actively as ever before.
Directors of Imatra Society in Brooklyn During the studying period, the brothers participated in the activities of the organization of the Finnish immigrants named Imatra Society in Brooklyn, New York. Veikko was the president of the society and Pentti served as the treasurer. During their management the society celebrated its 100th anniversary. On Pentti's initiative the 40th Street, where the society is located, was renamed ”Finlandia Street”.Home Reporter and Sunset News: “Finlandia Street Honors Imatra Hall Finnish Aid Society Celebrates Centennial” (Headline) Article February 8, 1991 p. 16, 17. Helsingin Sanomat: “Satavuotias Imatra-seura juhlii New Yorkissa” (´One hundred years old Imatra Society celebrates in New York´, eng.) (Headline) Article August 6, 1991 p. A4.