Liisa Hirsch
b. January 5, 1984 TallinnMember of the Estonian Composers' Union since 2011
Liisa Hirsch’s music can be characterised by sensitivity to sound, purity of form and research oriented approach towards composition. Microtonal reflection can also be observed in her work, while seeking to further the means of concentrated listening.
Hirsch studied composition in the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and in Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Besides being a composer she has also worked as music director at the Estonian Drama Theatre and is currently lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Hirsch has composed music also for film and theatre and oftentimes she collaborates with choreographers.
Her collaborations include Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, Ensemble Mosaik, Ensemble Musikfabrik, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Elblag Chamber Orchestra, S.E.M. Ensemble, Figura Ensemble, Ghost Ensemble, Nordic Affect, Konzert Minimal, Ensemble U: and others.
Her music has been played in various festivals including MATA Festival, Ostrava Music Days, Gaudeamus Muziek Week, ISCM World Music Days, Young Euro Classics, Estonian Music Days, Afekt Festival, International Arts Festival in St. Petersburg, Transit Festival in Leuven, Dark Music Days in Reykjavik, Internationale Stichting Masterclass Apeldoorn.
For her music to theatre plays, Hirsch has twice received the Estonian Theatre Annual Award: in 2010 for the best original music for drama (Night of Souls) and in 2013 for the best original music or musical design for drama (Iceland's Bell, Three Sisters, New Electric Ballroom). In 2015, her work Brautigan Circles for voices and large ensemble was selected as the winning piece at the young composers' meeting in Apeldoorn organised by Dutch ensemble Orkest de Erenprijs. Ascending... Descending for string orchestra achieved the 5th place at the International Rostrum for Composers in 2015 and the LHV New Composition Award Au-tasu in 2016, orchestral work Mechanics of Flying won the European Composer Award at the festival Young Euro Classic in Berlin. In 2017, Liisa Hirsch was given the Heino Eller Music Prize. Earth Veins for bagpipe ensemble received the special recognition of the LHV Award for New Composition in 2024.
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Updated in March 2025
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