By Bay Stephens EBS Staff Writer
Finnish flutist, performer and transformational coach Ulla Suokko has serenaded crowds in the most renowned concert halls across the globe, having her start with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Juilliard School and calls Cusco, Perú, home.
Ticketholders
will have the opportunity to hear her speak at TEDxBigSky on Saturday, Jan. 26,
and to witness a live performance the following evening at the Warren Miller
Performing Arts Center at 5 p.m.
EBS
asked her a few questions to gain a glimpse into what is in store for Big Sky
at these events.
Explore Big Sky: What
role has music played in your life?
Ulla Suokko: Music is my life. I am music. In
fact, we all are music in this beautiful, powerful, vibrational existence!
EBS: What led you to
begin playing the flute?
U.S.: It was as if flute chose me. I
really wanted to play any instrument, and my teacher suggested the flute. I
said YES, and the rest is history.
EBS: When you perform,
what affect do you hope to have on your audience?
U.S.: I love this question, because it is
important to me. I invite the audience on a journey with me, to feel and to
imagine. My programs are varied from classical to popular to ancestral music,
with stories that are both wise and funny and reflect life back to the
listener. Many times, people think that stories are for children, but they
really are for all of us!
EBS: What does it mean to
be a transformational coach?
U.S.: I facilitate change in peoples’
lives. I have been doing this for about 20 years and love it. My work is very
intuitive, so while I have studied many modalities and effective ways of life
transformation, the exact combination of the tools and the way to use them with
any individual will only unfold as we journey together. It is such a joy to see
the expansion and true transformation in my clients. By true transformation I
mean a shift in thoughts, habits and life experiences.
EBS: Why
did you choose to live in Perú?
U.S.: Perú [has called] me since I was a
child, I didn’t know why and to what extent, until I went there, and then I
felt deeply at home. I [will] touch upon this in my TEDx talk.
EBS: How has living in
Cusco, Perú, influenced your work?
U.S.: Quite a bit. I feel the living energy
of the Andes Mountains. You can relate to that in Montana! I take a lot of time
to be in nature, to hike in the mountains, but also make a point to go to the
Pacific Ocean on the coast and play with the energies of the ocean.
EBS: What are some themes
that you will touch on during your talk at TEDxBigSky?
U.S.: My talk is [titled] “Do you See the
Signs of The Universe?” I feel it is important to be present and to pay
attention moment to moment so that we can actually move from drifting to
directing our own life. In my talk I walk the audience through some personal
stories, where the listener can determine if a sign was given and perhaps be
inspired to see more [within] their hearts.
EBS: What can Big Sky
audiences look forward to in your performance the Sunday after TEDxBigSky?
U.S.: The performance will be a
multimedia musical storytelling event. I am looking forward to sharing my heart
with the people of Big Sky! It is not about me, it is about all of us creating
magic together.
Visit warrenmillerpac.org for tickets to Ulla Suokko’s Sunday, Jan. 27, performance. TEDxBigSky is sold out.
