Andres Uibo

b. April 16, 1956, Kivi-Vigala
Member of the Estonian Composers' Union since 2006
Member of the Association of Estonian Professional Musicians since 2000

Andres Uibo is first of all known as one of the finest organist in Estonian music scene. As a composer he has written pieces for different chamber ensembles where the use of organ is important, works for choirs and solo pieces for organ. Uibo’s music is generally well-sounding, where meditativeness, respect of classical traditions and even Oriental sounds (Final The New Jerusalem from Apocalypsis Symphony) can be found.

His organ piece Then I saw... won the first price and was voted as the best work by the audience at the contest of new compositions in Tallinn (2003). His compositions have been performed in Europe, U.S., Asia, Russia and elsewhere. His music have been performed besides composer himself also organist Tiia Tenno, violinist Mari-Liis Uibo, Orthodox Singers, Tobias String Quartet and others.

His works have been performed in Moscow Dom Muzyki, Great Hall of the St Petersburg Philharmony, Notre-Dame de Paris, Duomo di Milano, Monaco Cathedral, Antwerp Cathedral, Jerusalem Concert Hall, Tel Aviv Opera House, Haifa University Hall etc. His music has been frequently in the programme of well-known festivals in Europe, Russia, Asia and America. His symphonic works have been played by Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and Moscow Symphony Orchestra "Orfei". His author-CD "Apocalypsis Symphony" (2006) was recorded in Riga Carhedral.

Uibo graduated from the Tallinn Georg Ots Music School in piano with Leelo Kõlar and Ülev Saare in 1976 and the Tallinn State Conservatory in music pedagogy and organ with Hugo Lepnurm in 1981, studying also choral conducting under the supervision of Lembit Verlin. In 1988–1991, Uibo improved his skills with Leo Krämer in Germany and Ton Koopman in Finland and participated in the master courses of Hans Haselböck, José Luis Gonzales Uriol and Luigi Celeghini. As the grantee of Lübeck Municipality, Uibo studied at the Lübeck Academy of Music with Hans Gebhard from 1992 to 1994. Uibo has participated in the Speyer International Competition of Organists in Germany (1987) and the International Ferenz Liszt Competition in Budapest.

Since 1981, Andres Uibo is the concert-organist of the St. Nicholas’ Church in Tallinn and since 1996, he holds the post of manager and producer of the State Concert Institute Eesti Kontsert. In 1994, Uibo started to work as an organ teacher at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (professor since 2005). Among his best known students there are Aare-Paul Lattik, Ulla Krigul, Pille Metsson, Jaanus Torrim and Rein Kalmus. He has also been a jury member at several national and international competitions.

In 1987, he initiated the annual Tallinn Organ Festival which has by now become one of the leading organ festivals in the world. Being the artistic director of the festival, Uibo has commissioned new works from several Estonian composers for the festival’s program. Since 1998, Uibo has acted as an artistic director of the Suure-Jaani Music Days, dedicated to the Kapp family of composers and Tallinn BachFest since 2012

In 2001–2004, Uibo was the chairman of the International Artur Kapp Society, board member of the Estonian Music Council since 1996, and since 1999, the vice-chairman of Estonian Organ Society. Also his work in the Organ Fund of Tallinn Dome Church and Organ Fund of Tallinn St. John’s Church, has contributed to fixing several organs in Tallinn.

Andres Uibo has proofread and edited all works for organ by Artur Kapp, later published by the publishing house Eres. He is also the author of the book "Historical Organs in Estonia" (Eres, 1994).

Since 1981, Uibo has been giving more than 2,000 recitals and concerts with different soloists and ensembles almost in all European countries, Russia, Japan and Israel. He has cooperated with various Estonian musicians. The repertoire of Andres Uibo is diverse and wide. Uibo has been an active performer of Estonian organ music by Peeter Süda, Rudolf Tobias, Edgar Arro and Erkki-Sven Tüür, in many cases the first performer and introducer of their works.

Andres Uibo has made 33 recordings, including 12 solo-CDs and several CD-s with different musicians, e. g. Jüri Leiten (1994; 2003; 2007), Heiki Mätlik (2005; 2007) and Ain Varts (1999; 2003). In 2006, first CD with Uibo’s works was released by Eres where he performs his music in Riga Dome Church. Uibo’s works have been published by Eres Edition.

Andres Uibo has been awarded the annual award of the Estonian National Culture Foundation (1990), the Annual Prize of the Endowment for Music of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (1995, 1999), the Medal of the White Star (2001), the prize of Estonian Music Council (2006) and the title of Honorary Citizen of Suure-Jaani Parish (2010), City of Tallinn (2016) and Vigala Parish (2011).

Look also: Andres Uibo

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Updated in November 2017

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