Kristel Aer

b. May 9, 1969, Tallinn

Kristel Aer is an organist who actively performs at churches both in Estonia and abroad. She has given recitals in Latvia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, and Russia. Aer also has participated at Tallinn International Organ Festival, at Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and Klassikaraadio concert series Orelitund (An organ hour). She has cooperated with different choirs, orchestras and several renowned Estonian musicians such as Sigrid Kuulmann-Martin (violin), Arete Kerge (soprano), Ene Nael (harpsichord) and Peeter Sarapuu (bassoon). She is also a regular performer at summer concert series such as Sonorous Sounds of the Organs of Saaremaa and organ festivals in Pärnu and Narva.

In 1992 Kristel Aer graduated from Tallinn State Conservatory in choral conducting under the guidance of Kuno Areng, studying also organ with Hugo Lepnurm and Ines Maidre. In 1992–1999 she continued her studies at Sibelius Academy in Finland studying organ under the guidance of Prof Markku Heikinheimo and harpsichord with Prof Anssi Mattila. In addition, Kristel Aer has developed her skills at Royal Danish Academy of Music with Hans Fagius and has participated in masterclasses of Luigi Fernando Tagliavini, Ludger Lohmann and David Sanger.

Kristel Aer has worked as an assistant conductor of Estonian youth ensemble Kurekell and conducted Finnish mixed choir Helsinkin Laulu with whom she has won the 3rd prize at the international competition in the Czech Republic (1995). She works as an organ teacher at Georg Ots Tallinn Music School where she has developed the organ teaching program of the school (in 1997–2000, and since 2003) and at Institute of Theology of Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (since 2001) and has participated at church music program development. Kristel Aer is a member of Estonian Organ Society (since 1999), belongs to the management of Hugo Lepnurm Music Society and has also belonged to the management of organ restoration foundation of Juuru, Kadrina and Hageri churches. Since 2007 Kristel Aer leads the concert series Juuru Orelisuvi.

Kristel Aer has been one of the editors of composer Peeter Süda's organ works and has written the preface for the edition (2004). She has also published articles on the organ in newspapers and magazines such as Eesti Kirik and Muusika.

© EMIC 2013
(updated in September 2019)

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