On International Music Day, October 1, Annual Prizes of Estonian Music Council and Endowment for Music of Cultural Endowment of Estonia were handed over in Estonian National Opera.
Annual Prizes of Endowment for Music of Cultural Endowment of Estonia are ascribed to those who has been most remarkable figures in musical life during a year. Laureates 2008 are piano teacher Maigi Pakri (longtime and eminent pedagogical activity), musicologist Tiia Järg (pedagogical activity and broadcast series in Estonian classical music radio Klassikaraadio), saxophonist Lembit Saarsalu (high-level presentation of Estonian jazz in Estonia and abroad), soloists and conductor of Benjamin Britten’s Turn of the Screw staged at Birgitta Festival (high artistic achievements at Birgitta Festival 2008), flutist and composer Monika Mattiesen (chamber opera Dmeeter), pianist Anto Pett (taking the Estonian art of improvisation to the high international level), composer René Eespere (fruitful creative activity), concert agency Corelli Music (concert series that enrich Estonian musical life) and violinist Harry Traksmann (high-level activity as a soloist, chamber musician and concert master).
Annual Prizes of Endowment for Music of Cultural Endowment of Estonia were selected on the basis of nominated candidates by council staffed by Olav Ehala, Marko Lõhmus, Neeme Punder, Aare Tammesalu, Aarne Saluveer, Toomas Siitan and Tanel Ruben.
Ester Mägi Olari Elts Toomas Siitan
Estonian Music Council unites the majority of Estonian music institutions and awards the music prizes for giving credit to musicians or music institutions whose activities have furthered the development of Estonian music scene. Composition prize laureate is Ester Mägi as a grandee of Estonian composing. Interpretation prize was ascribed to NYYD Ensemble (artistic director Olari Elts) for making Estonian and world’s contemporary music hearable and worth to listen. Prize for important and remarkable activities in music scene was given to Toomas Siitan – leader of early music scene as a pedagogue, musicologist and interpreter.
Jury, consisted of Peep Lassmann, Olav Ehala, Urvi Haasma, Jüri Leiten, Jaan-Eik Tulve, Ülo Krigul, Andres Siitan and Timo Steiner, chose the laureates among 30 nominees of the Estonian Music Council’s member institutions.
Mariliis Valkonen