Peeter Paemurru

b. June 27, 1948 Tallinn
Member of Estonian Theatre Union since 1992
Member of Association of Estonian Professional Musicians since 1999

Peeter Paemurru has achieved recognition as soloist, valued chamber musician and pedagogue. He has given concerts in Estonia and abroad, participated in many festivals, organised performances and concert tours of orchestras.

Peeter Paemurru started his cello studies at the Nõmme Music School. In 1966 he graduated from the Tallinn Music High School and in 1969 from the Tallinn State Conservatoire in the double bass class of Vladimir Luht. At the same time he continued cello studies with Ivo Juuli and in 1973 graduated from the Moscow Conservatoire in Prof. Sergei Shirinsky’s cello class. In 1975, he continued post-graduate studies at the Moscow Conservatoire under Prof. Valentin Feigin. Paemurru gained attention at the Contest of Estonian String Instrument Players in 1969 and in 1975 won the first award at the same competition. In addition, Peeter Paemurru has studied German philology at the University of Tartu (1975-1979).

In 1973–1979, Peeter Paemurru was the concertmaster of cello section in the Estonian National Opera Orchestra and 1985–2004 member of the orchestra. Since 1977, he works at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre as a lector, since 1996 as a professor and 2001 as the head of the string department. His best known students are Ülle Hahndorf, Teet Järvi, Mart Laas, Andres Narma, Pärt Tarvas, Aare Tammesalu, Henry-David Varema, Reet Mets, Kaido Kelder, Levi-Daniel Mägila, Andreas Lend and others. He has also given master classes at the Festival of Young Estonian Cellists and participated as a member of jury in many international competitions for cellists.

From 1979 to 1980, he was a Professor at Cairo Conservatoire and from 1981 to 1984 he worked as the second concert master at the Mexico City Symphony Orchestra. In 1996, he founded cello school at Rakvere, which operates under Rakvere Music and Art school named Kaur and in 1997 he founded Virumaa Youth Orchestra.

Peeter Paemurru has also been active as a conductor; he has conducted many youth orchestras, among others String Orchestra of Georg Ots Tallinn Music School and Chamber Orchestra of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. He has participated in many international festivals, such as Aberdeen Music Festival (1990 and 1996), The Festival of British Youth Orchestras (1990) and International Youth Orchestra Festival in Valencia (2001).

His repertoire extends from world classics to Estonian music. He has given premieres of works by Estonian composer Els Aarne and recorded several CD-s, including works by Estonian composers Jaan Rääts and Heino Jürisalu.

As a soloist conductor and chamber musician, Peeter Paemurru has performed in many foreign countries. As a soloist he has appeared with Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Pärnu City Orchestra, Tartu Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra, Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra, Estonian Acedemy of Music and Theatre Symphony Orchestra and others. He has collaborated with such conductors as Neeme Järvi, Vallo Järvi, Roman Matsov, Peeter Lilje, Enn Nõgene, Jüri Alperten, Juozas Domarkas and Igor Bezrodnõi. In addition, he has performed with many chamber ensembles, including trio with Mari Tampere and Aleksandra Jouzapénaité-Eesmaa in Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, and quartet of the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra.

He has also performed and recorded with ensemble Synthesis. In Pille Lill Music Fund’s concert series he has participated with Pille Lill (soprano), Kristina Vähi (soprano), Anna-Liisa Bezrodny (violin), Peep Lassmann (piano), Piia Paemurru (piano), Marje Lohuaru (piano), Tiia Tenno-Ratas (organ), Toomas Trass (organ) and Maris Oidekivi-Kaufmann (organ).

Peeter Paemurru has also written articles in music magazines and newspapers.

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