GREETING OF THE PRESIDENT OF FINLAND MR. MARTTI AHTISAARI AND MRS. EEVA AHTISAARI

Gratifyingly, traveling has become both frequent and common among youth choirs of today. We believe it to be an excellent means of learning about international citizenship and experiencing other cultures. If one can become personally acquainted at an early age with lifestyles and activities in homes, schools and cultural institutions of other cultures, it becomes easy and natural to respond to the call of internationalism in adult years.

Finnish culture has become a big issue in the United States this year. The concert tour of the Cantores Minores increases in its share the cultural exchange of the two countries.

We wish to express our best greetings and wishes of success to the Cantores Minores, to each of its members, and to its audiences and collaborators.

GREETING OF THE BISHOP OF HELSINKI DIOCESE EERO HUOVINEN

In the USA the boys' choir tradition is kept alive especially in the Catholic and the Anglican churches. The boys' choir of the Lutheran Helsinki Cathedral, Cantores Minores, represents the old tradition of German boys' choirs (Knabenchöre), in which men's parts are sung by very young men of school age who have grown up within the choir.

The roots of this type of choir lie in the 16th century Lutheran Reformation. The Reformer Martin Luther pointed out that music is a gift of God which delights the sorrowful heart and draws people towards God. May this happen even now as the "Little Cantors" prepare for their fourth concert tour in the United States. It feels safe to send one's sons into the world knowing that during their tour they will have the opportunity to stay in the homes of local parishioners and choir members. It especially warms my heart that one of the hosts will be Dr. Ruth-Esther Hillilä, who 45 years ago was one of those responsible for the founding of the boys' choir Cantores Minores in the Helsinki Cathedral.

I wish the choir a safe journey and ample blessings of our good Lord. "O sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, bless His name; tell of His salvation from day to day" (Ps. 96:1a.2 NRSV)