Estonian cellist Indrek Leivategija is currently an associate principal cello at the Bamberg Symphony and a frequent guest princial of many top orchestras in Germany, such as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. He actively performs as soloist and chamber musician in festivals around the world and is engaged in teaching the cellists of the National Youth Orchestra of Germany and the Academy of Bamberg Symphony.

After studying cello in Estonia under the guidance of Reet Mets, he proceeded in 2006 to the Munich University of Music and Theatre, where he studied with Prof. Wen-Sinn Yang. He also attended advanced classes with Prof. Troels Svane, Prof. Peter Bruns, Prof. Wolfgang Boettcher, Prof. Martti Rousi and Prof. Alexander Ivashkin, among others. He has perfected his skills with Natalia Gutman at the Fiesole School of Music (Italy).

Indrek is a prizewinner of several international competitions, such as the Verona Salieri Zinetti Competition and Tallinn ESTA Competition. He has held a Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now scholarship since 2011, and has been deputy solo cello in the Bamberg Symphony since 2012.

Andres Kaljuste is an Estonian violist, violinist and conductor.

He has played in European top orchestras, such as the Berlin Radio Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Helsinki Filharmonic Orchestra and has has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Verona Philharmonic Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra and Belgrade Strings. In 2010, he debuted at Konzerthaus Berlin with Cappella Academica, performing the Brahms Violin Concerto. He regularly performs at chamber music festivals in Estonia and abroad.

During the current season, he will conduct the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra as well as the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra at the festivals Estonian Music Days and Kratt. He has previously conducted orchestras such as Helsinki and Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Lahti Sinfonia, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and many others.

Kaljuste started his instrumental studies with Aino Riikjärv at the Tallinn Music High School. He continued at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and in the Hanns Eisler College of Music in Berlin. His teachers include Urmas Vulp, Nina Balabina, Oleg Balabine and prof. Ulf Wallin. In orchestral conducting, he has obtained a master´s degree from the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki), where he studied with Hannu Lintu and Atso Almila.

In addition to performing, Kaljuste has been engaged in teaching at the Lilla Akademinen in Stockholm and at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Anna-Liisa Bezrodny was born into a distinguished family of musicians in Moscow, currently in great demand as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician all over the world.

She started to study violin under the guidance of doz. Ivi Tivik and continued mainly with her parents, Prof. Igor Bezrodny and Prof. Mari Tampere-Bezrodny. Her later years took her to London, resulting in winning the most prestigious award in Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Gold Medal in 2006, previously won by masters such as Bryn Terfel and Jaqueline du Pré. Anna-Liisa is a also prize-winner of several international competitions, such as the Heifetz International Violin Competition, Johannes Brahms International Competition Pörtschach, and others. Most recently Anna-Liisa was awarded an honorary Musician of the Year Award from the Estonian Cultural Foundation, for her internationally prosperous and productive concert-activity.

Over the years Anna-Liisa has appreared as soloist with orchestras in most prestigious concert venues in the world, such as Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Hall, Wigmore Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin, Cologne Philharmonie, Cadogan Hall, Finlandia Hall, St. Petersbugh Philharmonic Hall, Moscow Conservatoire Great Hall, and countless others. She has worked with outstanding maestros such as Sir Colin Davis, Leif Segerstam, Paavo Järvi, Olari Elts, Eri Klas, Nikolai Aleksejev, Arvo Volmer, Paul Mägi, Tibor Boganyi, among others. She has appeared in front of orchestras such as the Philharmonia Orchestra, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic, Estonian National Orchestra, and many others.

With the renowned pianist Ivari Ilja, she recorded a debut CD on ALBA RECORDS, gaining a praising response from all over the world. In late 2010, she released another CD of Eino Tamberg Violin Concerto, an Estonian composer, in collaboration with Vanemuine Theatre and maestro Mihkel Kütson, as a celebration for the composers 80th birthday year. Most recently Anna-Liisa released a DVD recorded for ERP Records (Estonian Record Productions), featuring Haydn and Mozart Violin Concertos, and gaining great critical acclaim. The DVD is dedicated to her late father, violinist and conductor Igor Bezrodny.

Anna-Liisa Bezrodny currently plays on an Amati violin, kindly on loan from the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Marcel Johannes Kits (1995) is one of the most promising young cellists to emerge from Estonia. He has won the 1st prize at the Johannes Brahms competition in Austria (2016) and at the George Enescu competition in Romania (2018). In 2019, he was a semi-finalist at the ARD International Music Competition. He has also won 1st prizes at the major competitions in Estonia (TV competition “Classical Stars” in 2013 and the Estonian String Players Competition in 2015).

Marcel studied cello in Tallinn Music High School with Laine Leichter and Mart Laas and later with prof. Francis Gouton at Trossingen University of Music (Germany). He is currently studying at the Berlin University of the Arts with Prof. Jens Peter Maintz.

In August 2020 he made his debut at festival Young Euro Classics in Konzerthaus Berlin and at Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. His other solo performances during the current season include appearances as soloist in front of Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, symphony orchestra of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and Pärnu City Orchestra. 

As soloist he has appeared with St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra (Musical Olympus festival), Latvian National SO, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Israel Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has appeared at prestigious venues such as the Grand Hall of the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonia, Grand Hall of Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, Berliner Philharmonie, Moscow Conservatory and Boulez Saal, only to name a few.

Marcel frequently performs in diverse chamber music groups. In 2016-2017, he recorded several chamber music CDs for Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben. He is a member of piano trio Trio ´95 and string quartet M4GNET.

He plays an Italian cello made by Francesco Ruggeri (Cremona, 1674) and a bow made by Victor Fetique, both kindly on loan to him by the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben.

Linda-Anette Verte started her violin studies with Tiiu Päeske and continued at the Tallinn Music High School with Ivi Tivik and with prof. Mari Tampere-Bezrodny. She received her bachelor’s diploma from Sibelius Academy under the guidance of prof. Mari Tampere-Bezrodny and continues pursue towards a master´s degree in the same institution under prof. Réka Szilvay. She has also studied with Prof. Pamela Frank at the USC Thornton School of Music (Los Angeles) and in numerous masterclasses.

After working in 2016-2019 as concertmaster of the Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra, she currently dedicates herself mainly to solo and chamber music performances.

As soloist, she has performed with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Kyiv Soloists, Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra, Pärnu City Orchestra, Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra a.o., working with conductors Paul Mägi, Jüri Alperten, Mikk Murdvee, Arvo Volmer and Atso Almila, among others . In 2020, she gave the premiere of the Violin Concerto by Rasmus Puur with Pärnu City Orchestra and conductor Kaspar Mänd. As soloist and in diverse chamber music groups, she has performed in Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, United.

In 2017, an album of solo violin music and poems written by Linda and read by actress Harriet Toompere was published.ates of America, Germany and Ukraine.

Linda is currently performing on a violin made by Andreas Hudelmayer in London in 2019.

Jaani Helander is a Finnish cellist who performs actively as solo and chamber musician. He graduated from the Sibelius Academy in 2013 after studying with Martti Rousi and has been a member of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra since then. Helander is currently studying under professor Natalia Gutman in the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole in Florence, Italy.

He was awarded the second prize at the Turku Cello Competition in 2010 and the 1st prize at the strings instrument competition of the ISA Festival in Austria the same year. In Finland he has performed as soloist with the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Joensuu and Hämeenlinna City Orchestras and the Guard’s Band, among others, and in Austria with the Spirit of Europe chamber orchestra.

As chamber musician, Jaani has performed at various festivals in Finland as well as at the iPalpiti festival in USA and at the Nafplion festival in Greece. He is a member of piano trio TEOS with violinist Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä and pianist Jaan Ots. As principal cellist, he has performed with the Helsinki and Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and the international iPalpiti Orchestra.

Jaani has also made several arrangements for two cellos, covering different music styles and actively engages in performing contemporary music. In addition to his performance activities, he is involved as artistic director in organizing the Helsinki Chamber Music Festival together with violinist Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä and teaches at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland.

He plays an Italian cello by Vincenzo Postiglione made in 1914, kindly on loan from the foundation Finlandssvenska Instrumentfonden.

Anna-Liisa Eller is an Estonian chromatic kannel artist (Estonian traditional plucked string instrument) who is currently pursuing her PhD at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under Prof. Toomas Siitan and Prof. Imbi Tarum. She previously studied at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under Prof. Kristi Mühling, at the Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse de Lyon with Prof. Yves Rechsteiner and Rolf Lislevand, and during one year at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Trossingen with Prof. Rolf Lislevand.

Her main focus is on early music and contemporary music creation. She regularly collaborates with renowned early music ensembles such as Supersonus, Ensemble Kapsberger and Vox Clamantis and with alternative and contemporary music groups, for example The Bright Future Ensemble.

Anna-Liisa has successfully participated in several international competitions, most recently she won first prize and Koistinen kantele first special prize in Helsinki, Finland 2011.

In autumn 2019, her first solo-CD was released for Harmonia Mundi in series Harmonia Nova.

Marcel Johannes Kits (1995) is one of the most promising young cellists to emerge from Estonia. He has won the 1st prize at the Johannes Brahms competition in Austria (2016) and at the George Enescu competition in Romania (2018). In 2019, he was a semi-finalist at the ARD International Music Competition. He has also won 1st prizes at the major competitions in Estonia (TV competition “Classical Stars” in 2013 and the Estonian String Players Competition in 2015).

Marcel studied cello in Tallinn Music High School with Laine Leichter and Mart Laas and later with prof. Francis Gouton at Trossingen University of Music (Germany). He is currently studying at the Berlin University of the Arts with Prof. Jens Peter Maintz.

In August 2020 he made his debut at festival Young Euro Classics in Konzerthaus Berlin and at Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. His other solo performances during the current season include appearances as soloist in front of Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, symphony orchestra of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and Pärnu City Orchestra. 

As soloist he has appeared with St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra (Musical Olympus festival), Latvian National SO, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Israel Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has appeared at prestigious venues such as the Grand Hall of the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonia, Grand Hall of Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, Berliner Philharmonie, Moscow Conservatory and Boulez Saal, only to name a few.

Marcel frequently performs in diverse chamber music groups. In 2016-2017, he recorded several chamber music CDs for Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben. He is a member of piano trio Trio ´95 and string quartet M4GNET.

He plays an Italian cello made by Francesco Ruggeri (Cremona, 1674) and a bow made by Victor Fetique, both kindly on loan to him by the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben.

Jaan Ots is an Estonian conductor and pianist.

Currently, his time is mainly divided between conducting and chamber music projects. He is a member of Frielinghaus Ensemble (Germany), piano trio TEOS (Finland-Estonia) and is a regular guest artist at various festivals.

His first major debut as conductor took place at the Finnish National Ballet in December 2017 with the ”Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky. In the following year he led the Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, Hamburger Camerata, Lahti Sinfonia, Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Greek Radio Orchestra, Greek National Opera, among others.

After graduating from Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, where he studied piano performance under Mati Mikalai, he took on orchestral conducting studies at the Sibelius Academy (Finland) and obtained a master´s degree under the guidance of Leif Segerstam.

In addition to piano and conducting, his wide musical background includes extensive studies in trumpet playing. Having excelled in both instruments, Jaan is a laureate of over 20 competitions in Estonia, Latvia, Russia and Germany, including 1st prices at Steinway&Sons Piano Competition for Young pianists and the Estonian National Competition for Wind Instruments.

Liis Jürgens (Viira) is a composer, harpist and improviser.

Her works have been presented at the festival of new music “Arena” in Riga (Latvia), International New Music Festival NYYD in Tallinn, the Estonian Music Days Festival and the Autumn Festival of the Estonian Academy of Music, and on many other occasions. Figurative thinking and translating visuality into music are characteristic of her work.

As harpist, she has worked in the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, collaborated with most of Estonian professional orchestras and with several international orchestras. She is a foun ding member of ensemble Una Corda. Additionally, she is involved in Meelis Vind’s group VindProject, Sven Grünberg’s ensemble and performs free imrpovisation (solo project Liz Wirestring).

Liis Jürgens has graduated from Tallinn Music High School, where she specialized in composition with Alo Põldmäe and in harp with Eda Peäske. She continued her studies at the Estonian Academy of Music with Helena Tulve (composition), Eda Peäske (harp); she also worked with Margo Kõlar at EAM Electronic Music Studio. She has also studied free improvisation with Taavi Kerikmäe and Anto Pett. Since 2012, she is developing her skills in the animation department of the Estonian Academy of Arts, moving towards binding the visual arts and music.

Kirill Ogorodnikov is one of the most outstanding guitarists of the younger generation in Estonia.

He has premiered works by contemporary Estonian composers, dedicated to him, such as “Twelve in Seven” by Rene Eespere and “Sonata a la Arpa” by Lauri Jõeleht.

He has collaborated with many prominent Estonian artists and ensembles, such as Ensemble U:, Yxus Ensemble, singer Iris Oja, and others. Kirill Ogorodnikov is a member of unique chamber music ensemble Duo Telluur (English horn/classical guitar). The duo has performed in all the main concert halls in Estonia and toured in Germany; plans in near future include concerts in St. Petersburg. Duo Telluur is focusing on commissioning pieces by contemporary composers and arranging music for the ensemble.

Kirill has studied at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with Prof. Heiki Mätlik and at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln with Prof. Gerhard Reichenbach. He has also participated in numerous masterclasses with international artists such as Roberto Aussel, Sergio Assad, Carlo Marchione, Eduardo Fernandez.

He is a prizewinner of  international classical guitar competitions such as Gevelsberg International Guitar Competition 2014, and Tallinn International Guitar Competition 2010.

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Estonian cellist Silvia Ilves received her first music lessons at the age of two from her mother and started studying cello at the age of six at the Tallinn Music High School under the guidance of Mart Laas. She later continued at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with Peeter Paemurru, Henry-David Varema and Marko Ylönen.

Silvia regularly performs in classical concert series of major Estonian agencies and as an electric cellist in pop music concerts. She has collaborated with outstanding Estonian artists such as pianist Age Juurikas, cellist Marcel Johannes Kits, guitarist Paul Neitsov, composer Rein Rannap, and many others. Since 2017, she is a member of Absolut Ensemble, which is founded and led by conductor Kristjan Järvi.

As soloist, she has appeared with Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Neeme Järvi, among others, performing works by P. I. Tchaikovsky and H. Eller. Since 2015, she has worked in Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and collaborates on regular basis with Estonian Sinfonietta (since 2013) and Nordic Symphony Orchestra (since 2015).

Johannes Põlda is an Estonian violinist, currently based in Finland where he is working as first violin principal of the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra. He has previously worked as concertmaster of Lapland Chamber Orchestra. Since January 2019, he is also the concertmaster of the Eesti Sinfonietta.

Johannes studied violin under the guidance of Laine Sepp and Ivi Tivik. After graduating from Tallinn Music High School, he obtained both the bachelor´s and the master´s degree from the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki), where he studied in the class of Prof. Mari Tampere-Bezrodny. He perfected his skills during one year at the Eastman School of Music (US) in the violin class of Prof. Oleh Krysa and participated in numerous masterclasses during his studies.

As soloist, he has performed in front of Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, Estonian Sinfonietta, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Tbilisi National Orchestra, and others. Most recently, Johannes Põlda performed with the Estonian Sinfonietta the violin concerto “Angel’s Share” by Erkki-Sven Tüür.

In 2018 he was awarded the 3rd prize in the Estonian TV competition “Classical Stars” (“Klassikatähed”).

Triinu Piirsalu is a promising young Estonian violinist and a recent prizewinner of the Estonian Strings Players Competition (2020). In addition to that, she has been awarded the 2nd prize at the Estonian National TV competition Classic Stars (Klassikatähed; 2020), the 2nd prize at the August Dombrovski International Competition in Latvia (2017), the 2nd prize at the III Stockholm International Music Competition (2014), and several others.

During the next two seasons Triinu will perform as soloist with Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. Previously, she has performed with Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Virumaa Chamber Orchestra, Hiiumaa Chamber Orchestra, among others. Her last public appearances include the interpretations of concertos by  Jean Sibelius, Max Bruch and Felix Mendelssohn.

Triinu started her violin studies in Tallinn Music School at the age of 7 with Katrin Talmar and later continued at the same institution with Tiiu Peäske. Since autumn 2019, she studies at the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki) with Prof. Réka Szilvay. She has participated in master classes such as  the International Järvi Academy, Astona Summer Music Academy, Allegro Vivo Summer Academy, and many others.

Triinu is playing on the Jean Babtiste Vuillaume violin (1846), kindly on loan for her by the Sibelius Academy.

Maria Goršenina is currently working as concertmaster of Estonian National Opera Symphony Orchestra. As a guest player, she has also collaborated with Estonian National Orchestra Pärnu City Orchestra, and as concertmaster with Narva Symphony Orchestra. Lately, she has also played in Estonian Sinfonietta and string quartet New Moon.

She has obtained both her bachelor´s and master´s degree from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, where she studied in class of Prof. Mari Tampere-Bezrodny. 

Although her main performance activities are connected to orchestral playing, Maria has also appeared as soloist in front of the Estonian National Opera Symphony Orchestra and the symphony orchestra of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Meelis Orgse is a baroque violinist who regularly participates in different early music projects in Estonia, Finland and Germany, often performing as a concertmaster and soloist. Since 2000, he plays in Tallinn Baroque Orchestra and ensemble Corelli Consort and since 2002, he has participated in the work of Helsinki Baroque Orchestra and Finnish Baroque Orchestra. In 2004–2012, Meelis worked in Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and by 2007, he was selected to play in the European Union Baroque Orchestra. In 2013–2015, he played in baroque orchestras Bremer Ratsmusik and La festa musicale (Germany). Meelis is a member of baroque ensembles Floridante (Estonia, founded in 2014), Gli Affetti Freschi and  Ensemble Nylandia (Finland) and Bremen Baroque Orchestra (Germany).

Meelis Orgse graduated from Tallinn Music High School with Mare Teearu. In 1999–2004, he studied violin under the supervision of Andrus Haav and Urmas Vulp at the Estonian Academy of Music. In 2005–2009, he continued his studies in Masters’ programme at Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (Finland), studying modern violin with Mari Tampere-Bezrodny and baroque violin with Kreeta-Maria Kentala. In 2011–2015 he impoved his skills at baroque violin under the supervision of Prof. Thomas Alberti at University of the Arts Bermen (Germany). Meelis has participated in master courses of Sirkka-Liisa Kaakinen-Pilch, Anton Steck, Ann Wallström, Irina Kisselova, Veronika Skuplik (baroque violin).

Since 2015, Meelis Orgse teaches baroque violin at Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Maksim Štšura is an Estonian pianist, composer and academic.

He obtained his bachelor´s degree cum laude from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under Prof. Ivari Ilja and masters´s degree and artist diploma from the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied at Prof. Gordon Fergus-Thompsons class. He recently defended at RCM his doctoral theses „Translating Twenty-First-Century Orchestral Scores for the Piano: Transcription, Reduction and Performability“.

Maksim has performed in Estonia, Finland, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Holland, Russia and in numerous concert halls in Great Britain. He has performed in festivals such as  Deal, St Magnus and Brighton Festival in England, Pärnu Music Festival, and many others. As soloist, he has appeared with Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Narva City Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of the Estonian National Opera and several others, working with conductors such as Vello Pähn, Nikolai Aleksejev, Pail Mägi, Aleksandr Titov, among others.

One of his most fruitful chamber music collaborations is the Foyle-Štšura duo, which was founded in 2012. The duo has since performed in world-famous halls like the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Wigmore Hall in London and in festivals like the Cervantino Festival in Mexico and New York Chamber Music Festival. In season 2018-19, the duo released their first CD´s, both of which have received praising critique in such magazines as BBC Music Magazine ja Gramophone.

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