OLE HALEN
Ole Anders Halen began studying electric guitar at age 13. By the time he was 15, he found himself in a touring rock band with several hit records. He was subsequently influenced by the playing style of Chet Atkins and at 17, to improve his fingerstyle technique, he began to study the classical guitar. On the recommendation of his teacher, Ivan Putilin, Halen studied classical music at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki where he was later to occupy a guitar teaching position himself. Captivated by the luthier's trade, Halen has constructed several classi cal guitars as well as been involved in guitar string production and music recording and publishing. He continues to show an intense love for all styles of music and has done much to popularize the guitar in Finland, serving as one of the organizers of the Scandinavian International Guitar Festival and as the organizer of the annual Midnight Sun Guitar Festival in Ikaalinen. With his involvement in so many facets of the guitar world, Ole Halen is one of Finland's most versatile guitarists.