Dear participants of the ESTA Conference 2026,

It is my sincere pleasure to welcome the 54th European string teachers association conference to Finland and to our beautiful capital of Helsinki!

Helsinki is a city of arts and culture. We are especially proud to be the home of multiple world class orchestras who specialize in classical music, jazz, or baroque music. Our array of concert halls hosts numerous concerts every year from full-scale orchestras to other fascinating musical performances. We are determined to make sure that music and arts are accessible to everyone in Helsinki.

Our passion for music and culture can be also seen in our education in Helsinki. Our Sibelius-lukio upper secondary school is the top school in Finland when it comes to teaching music and has been granted a special educational task in music by the Ministry of Education. When it comes to higher education, we are proud to have the University of Arts here in Helsinki. Just a few months ago the city of Helsinki and the university of arts signed a new partnership agreement for the first time to deepen our cooperation – a signal of Helsinki’s dedication to being a capital of arts and music.

I am extremely proud to have the opportunity to serve as the patron of this year’s ESTA Conference. I hope that your time in Helsinki will bring you new connections, fresh ideas, and inspiration to your work with music and education.

Hopefully you will also have time to explore the city during your stay here. I am certain that Helsinki will provide you with unforgettable moments and memories.

I want to wish you all a great and inspiring conference here in Helsinki!

Daniel Sazonov
Mayor of Helsinki