 Tiia-Ester Loitme |
Musician of the Year is ascribed to the musician who has furthered Estonian musical culture and collaborated with the Estonian Public Broadcasting. Music editors of the Estonian Public Broadcasting chose Tiia-Ester Loitme as the Musician of the Year for long-time work as a conductor of Ellerhein Girls’ Choir. |
The honorable title of Musician of the Year title was announced for the 27th time this year. Among the past awardees have been pianist Kalle Randalu (1982), composer Alo Mattiisen (1988), the Grand Old Man of Estonain Jazz Valter Ojakäär (1993), composer Erkki-Sven Tüür (1996), singer and songwriter Tõnis Mägi (1997), choir conductor Tõnu Kaljuste (1998), pianist, composer and improviser Rein Rannap (2002), conductor Anu Tali (2006) and choir conductor Aarne Saluveer (2007).
The Musician of the Year Gala took place on January 11 at Tallinn’s Song Celebration Grounds. The festive event, where the Girl’s Choir Ellerhein performed, was broadcasted live from the Song Celebration Grounds’ Glass Hall on both Vikerraadio and Klassikaraadio.
Tiia-Ester Loitme graduated from Prof. Gustav Ernesaks conducting class of Tallinn State Conservatory in 1965. In 1970, alongside Heino Kaljuste, Loitme started working as a conductor of the Ellerhein Girls’ Choir. Since 1989 Loitme is the chief conductor and under her guidance Ellerhein has won a number of international contests and competitions. In 2007 Ellerhein won THE first prize in the youth choirs category at the EBU radio competition Let the People Sing. Loitme has been the general conductor of children’s choirs and female choirs at Estonian Song Celebrations. Recently Loitme was ascribed Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun.
The next performance of the Ellerhein Girl’s Choir will be with Reval Ensemble on January 16, at 7 pm in Võru Cultural house Kannel. Theprogrem of the concert, entitled In the Land of White, consists of arrangements of songs by René Eespere and piano pieces by Urmas Sisask as well as chamber works of both composers and free improvisations by Reval Ensemble.
Aveli Kadastik