Maria Joutsi-Laine is a music educator (musiikkikasvattaja) at Ylöjärven seurakunta, where she has led music playschool groups and parish music activities since 2007. Originally from Kokkola, she studied at a conservatory and took part in theatre and musical productions before settling into her current role. Her work spans accompaniment, children's church services, band fairs and confirmation camp music - with singing as her primary instrument alongside guitar, ukulele and kantele.
Joutsi-Laine and her dog Arttu released a video performing the winter song 'Lumihiutale' on the parish's YouTube channel.
Joutsi-Laine performed the traditional winter song 'Ratiritiralla' together with her dog Arttu in a video published on YouTube.
A video of Joutsi-Laine and her dog Arttu singing 'Hoosianna' for the first Sunday of Advent went viral on MTV Uutiset after the parish moved its music playschool online due to COVID-19.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Joutsi-Laine moved her music playschool sessions to live Facebook broadcasts, reaching families unable to attend in person.
Joutsi-Laine provided music for a televised Sunday service broadcast by Yle from Ylöjärvi church, together with the parish band.
