Marje Lohuaru

b. June, 24, 1949 Tallinn
Member of the Estonian Association of Professional Musicians

Pianist Marje Lohuaru has achieved recognition above all as valued chamber musician. She is also pedagogue and active figure in Estonian musical life.

Lohuaru began her musical studies at the Tallinn Music High School with Professor Hilja Olm and continued with Professor Heljo Sepp in Tallinn State Conservatoire (1968–1973). She improved her skills at the postgraduate level at Leningrad Conservatoire with Marina Karandashova.

After graduating from the Tallinn State Conservatoire, Lohuaru has remained affiliated with the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. From 1973 to 1978 she was active as an accompanist, since 1981, has served as a professor in the Chamber Music Department of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. In 1988 she became a Associate Professor in the department, serving as chair from 1991 to 1997, and was elevated to full professor in 1998. In 1992–1993, Lohuaru was an assistant to the chancellor in foreign relations, and from 1993 to 2012 she hold the position of the Vice-Rector of International Relations. Thanks to Lohuaru’s work, there are agreements with over 50 higher musical education institutions throughout Europe and also with prestigous foreign projects like Culture 2000, TEMPUS, Socrates/Erasmus, and Japanese Government Cultural Aid programs. As an academic expert, Lohuaru has often evaluated higher education projects for the European Commission.

As Professor of Chamber Music at the Estonian Academy of Music, Lohuaru has greatly contributed to furthering the artistry of young Estonian chamber musicians and enriching their repertoire. Among her pupils are Jana and Mihkel Peäske, Tuuli Teder and Selvadore Rähni, Ruth Haav and Kaido Kelder, Ralf Taal and Virgo Veldi. Lohuaru has participated in many Estonian and international competition juries as well as given master courses in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Italy and elsewhere.

As a highly valued ensemble partner among singers and instrumentalists, Lohuaru has performed with many interprets such as Urve Tauts, Pille Lill, Riina Airenne, Ulrika Kristian, Urmas Vulp, Mare Teearu, Peeter Paemurru, Jelena Komarova and Marianne Boettcher. She has given concerts in Finland, Germany, Russia, Scandinavian countries and Canada.

Lohuaru has been the member of the board of Estonian Music Council (1995–2005) and the president of Endowment for Music of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (2003–2005). She is the member of Estonian National Commission for UNESCO (since 1996), the member of the board of ELIA (European League of the Institutes of the Arts, since 2004), European Union expert of educational and cultural programs, the member of the board of Association of Estonian Professional Musicians (2002–2008 chairman of the board). She has been awarded Estonian Republic’s V Class Order of the White Star in 2005.

Lohuaru has recorded music for Estonian Radio and Estonian Television. Together with violinist Ulrika Kristian, Lohuaru has CD „An altered landscape” (Estonian Radio, 1998). On compilation CD To reach yesterday” (Megadisc, 2003) she performs Lepo Sumera’s vocal music together with soprano Pille Lill.

© EMIC 2008

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