Johanna Grüssner – vocalist (b. 14 November 1972, Finström, Åland, Finland)

grew up in the idyllic countryside where she sang in the local children's choir. The eminent choir director composed new music for the children, and Johanna was always interested in learning how to read music and singing difficult harmonies. Once a week she got on the bus to get piano lessons from an elderly lady in the nearby village. Around 10 she was accepted to the music institute of Mariehamn where she continued taking piano lessons as well as music theory. Still it was the singing that always interested her the most, and she continued to be a faithful singer in the local church choir. A few years later Johanna started taking classical voice lessons at the music institute. Despite the good vocal technique, she had a strong urge to make her own interpretations and improvisations which she got the chance to develop in the gospel choir Intermezzo. The choir director took her under his wing and gave her solos and opportunities to perform. She was thrilled by the freedom of expression in the African American music tradition. After her high school graduation 1991 Johanna chose to work for a year as a music teacher at different schools on the island. She worked with disabled,... Read