Toomas Nestor

June 10, 1959, Tallinn
Member of the Assotiation of Estonian Professional Musicians

Toomas Nestor is a well-known violin and viola player, currently working as a violinist at the Estonian National Opera Orchestra. He is also a member of two Estonian string quartets: the Tallinn String Quartet and the Tobias String Quartet.

Toomas Nestor started violin studies at the Tapa Children’s Music school with Ilmar Mägi. In 1978, he graduated as a violinist from the Tallinn Music High School and in 1984, from the Tallinn State Conservatoire, being a student of Endel Lippus at both institutions. In 1981–1990, he worked in orchestra of theatre Estonia. He also has taught violin at the Tallinn Music High School and string quartet performance at the Estonian Academy of Music.

In 1984, Toomas Nestor was one of the founders of the Tallinn String Quartet, where he at first played the 2nd violin and later viola. The quartet has often performed music by Estonian composers such as Rudolf Tobias, Heino Eller, Eduard Tubin, Arvo Pärt, Toivo Tulev, Erkki-Sven Tüür and Kaljo Raid. The quartet has recorded several CDs and given concerts in many European countries, Japan and Canada, including a number of international festivals. In 2003, the Tallinn String Quartet was awarded the Heino Eller Music Prize.

Since 2003, Toomas Nestor plays viola also in the Tobias String Quartet.


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