Susanna Viljanmaa

Susanna Viljanmaa is the Finnish pioneer of Theremin as a composer, performer, playing instructor and an inventor. She built her first Big Briar Etherwave in 2002 and has performed various concerts and movie concerts since. She is currently the only Theremin playing instructor in Finland.

The world’s oldest mass-produced electronic music instrument is also one of the most difficult ones to play.

Neurodivergence often involves sensory hypersensitivity. The presentation focuses on auditory perception, the fine details of sound, and the tactile qualities within sound. The Theremin itself is also a highly neurodivergent-leaning instrument, as playing it offers no physical point of contact or reference, requiring the performer to continuously and precisely monitor their body and react quickly.