Leelo Kõlar

b. November 28, 1927 Tallinn

Leelo Kõlar is renowned pianist, pedagogue and music critic. She has compiled and published several study books for piano.

Leelo Kõlar begun piano studies under the guidance of her father Riho Päts. In 1939–1940, Kõlar received private piano lessons with Bruno Lukk and entered the Tallinn State Conservatoire, where she in 1940–1941 studied piano with Bruno Lukk and in 1941–1944 with Erika Franz. In 1944, Kõlar continued at higher course of the conservatoire, studying piano with Bruno Lukk and composition under the guidance of Heino Eller. In 1950, Leelo Kõlar was exmatriculated from the conservatoire for political reasons, and in 1954, she received special permission from Moscow to graduate as an external student.

In 1948–1950, Leelo Kõlar was piano teacher at the Georg Ots Tallinn Music School. After the exmatriculation and her husband's deportation, Kõlar followed her husband and worked in 1952–1954 as an artistic director of Belaya-Holunits district club. In 1954–1956, she was piano teacher at Kirov Music School and improved her skills under the guidance of Maria Grinberg in Moscow. After repatriating in 1956, Kõlar continued teaching at the Georg Ots Tallinn Music School. Her students include Merike Vaitmaa, Sirje Kuusk, Tiiu Loopere, Reet Vanaselja, Anne Tüür, Kadri Ploompuu, Mailis Põld and others. In 1991–1994, Kõlar was piano teacher at the Helsinki Music Institute (Helsingin Musiikkiopisto).

In 1956–1991, Kõlar gave concerts as a solo pianist and chamber musician, as well as an orchestra soloist both in Estonia and Soviet Union. In 1986–1991, she worked as a producer and performer at the Estonian National Philharmonic, organizing concert series for children. Leelo Kõlar has researched methodology of piano teaching, has compiled piano studybooks and published concert critics. She has given lectures about piano teaching at conferences, has led complemental and master courses and has participated at contests’ jury's work. She has produced CD "Piano music for children and youth by Estonian composers" (2002). Leelo Kõlar is a founding member of the Estonian Piano Teachers’ Association (1989), member of the Estonian Authors' Society (1999) and the Association of the Estonian Professional Musicians (2002). In 1982, she was given honorary title of Merited Teacher of Estonian SSR. In 1997, Kõlar was awarded the Order of White Star and in 2002 Riho Päts School Music Scholarship.

In 2000, Leelo Kõlar released a solo CD Ricordanza.

Studybooks by Leelo Kõlar:
In the Cycle of Year: Song Book for Toddlers / Aastaringis: mudilaste laulik (1966)
Studybook for Piano / Klaveriõpik (kaasautor Riho Päts) (1975)
Songs for Childen / Lastelaulud (1989)
Beginning / Algus – klaveriõpik algajatele (1994)
Musical games / Muusikalised mängud (1995)
Pianosta lentoon I–III (co-author) (Helsinki, 1992–1995)
Little Piano Pieces for Children / Väikesed klaveripalad lastele (1996)

Books by Leelo Kõlar:
Riho Päts in Word and Image / Riho Päts sõnas ja pildis (compiler and co-author, 1981)
Piano Stories / Klaverijutud (1981)


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