This is Camena

The word "Camena" is derived from Latin where it means the Goddess of Water. There was a template dedicated to the Goddess Camena in the Eger grove along the Roman Via Appia. In Greek, the term "Camena" means the muse of a poet.

Kamarikuoro Camena (Chamber Choir Camena) was founded in the city of Tampere, Finland in 1979. At the moment the choir has about 40 singers. Since 2000 the choir is conducted by Jani Laaksonen.

The repertoire of Chamber Choir Camena consists of both old and new, sacred and secular music. Most characteristic for Camena is though romantic music. Apart from the domestic stages in Finland, Camena has performed over the years in Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, Austria and Hungary. The choir was awarded a Gold stamp at the Tampere Chorus Review in 1983 and 1991. In 1986 Camena came third in the international Béla Bartók choir competition in Hungary. In 1998 Camena competed in Pohlheim, Germany, and was awarded Silver stamps in the church and chamber music categories. In the Tampere Chorus Review in 1999 Camena was awarded three Silver stamps.

Camena has four recordings. In 1991 the choir released the album “Kesällä kello viisi” (In the Summer at 5 AM). The Finnish broadcast company YLE recognised the album as the best Finnish recording by an amateur choir in 1991. In the autumn of 1994 the choir released the album “Jumalan tulet” (Fires of God) which contains Nordic comtemporary sacred music as well as compositions and arrangements by the conductor Olli Vehkavaara. In 1998, Camena released the Christmas carol album “Tuhannen tuikkii kynttilää” (Thousands of Candles Burning). In 2007, the choir released another Christmas carol album “Valoa pimeään” (Light in the dark). The album contains 13 Christmas carols, 8 of which are arrangements tailored for Camena by the conductor Juha Törmä. The most recent recording of Camena is "Kevätlinnuille" (For Springtime Birds). This album was released in 2015 and it contains beloved solo songs of Oskar Merikanto rearranged for a mixed choir.