The Laiho Trio
[5] The brothers grew up in the city of Pori, in southwestern Finland, but they made their main career in the United States where they lived for years.
Progressing in playing skills they got interested in performing more demanding orchestral music and founded the accordion trio in 1960.
[6] An opportunity to perform outside Finland opened in 1967 and The Laiho Trio made their first North American tour in the years 1968 and 1969.
On January 28, 1969 the Canadian newspaper Vapaa Sana (Free Press) published an article concerning the Laiho Trio's concert at International Institute in Los Angeles.
The shows were broadcast to millions of listeners throughout the whole continent of North America, which greatly advanced their future successful career in the United States.
Godfrey was very impressed for the performances of the Laiho Trio and cried out “Wizards!” He told to his listeners again and again that “you cannot believe but there are three of them although it sounds like a playing of one instrument, so well they play together.”[9] The second tour began in spring 1977 and now the brothers decided to stay permanently in the U.S.A. At first, they gave concerts in universities at Midwest and, at the end of the tour, they settled down in New York City, which was to be their home for decades.
The accordion symphonists filled that big church with their music.“[12] The International Musician published an article about the Laiho Trio in the issue of October 1990.
Following is a quote from the article: “The Laiho Trio - The First Three Accordion Symphonists (headline) … Never before it was considered that this instruments could contribute to the music programs of symphonies, operas or concertos.
Three brothers born in Pori, Finland, Altti, Veikko and Pentti Laiho formed the only ensemble in the world which performed symphonic orchestral music on three accordions.
The trio performed also several one-hour live concerts at WQXR, a radio station owned by The New York Times.
The concerts were led by Robert Sherman who made comments about the concerts to the radio listeners and for the performances of the Laiho Trio he said: “Great, brilliant, most unusual treat!”[14][15] In November 1982, the Laiho Trio was honored to perform for Carl Gustav XVI and Silvia, the King and Queen of Sweden, during their visit to New York City.
At that point, the brothers decided to utilize their experiences as performing artists for composition and started to study music theory and composing in The City University of New York.
Although the brothers’ magnificent career as accordion artists in the U.S. ended, they moved along into composing and their work with music continues as actively as ever before.
During the studying period, the brothers participated in the activities of the organization of the Finnish immigrants named Imatra Society in Brooklyn, New York.
…Last Sunday afternoon the Imatra hall near the Sunset Park in Brooklyn experienced an all-time surprise, the Society´s own Christmas party was attended with more people than for many, many, years.”[22] February 14, 1989: “…Veikko Laiho with his effectual board has received more and more visiting orchestras and other groups.
1989: “The annual meeting elected Veikko Laiho unanimously with loud applause for the second year to be the president of the society.”[24] October 16.
