Ants Üleoja
Ants Üleojab. 19.11.1936 Oonurme village, Tudulinna borough
Ants Üleoja is professor emeritus of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and renowned choir conductor, also principal conductor and organizer of Estonian Song Celebrations. He has been conductor of several professional choirs including Estonian National Male Choir and Mixed Choir of Television and Radio. Ants Üleoja continuously developes music activity at his home place in Virumaa, where he conducts Oornurme Mixed Choir and has been organizer of local song celebrations.
Ants Üleoja began music studies at Tallinn Music School under the guidance of Roland Laasmäe, graduating in 1956. In 1961 Üleoja graduated from Tallinn State Conservatoire under the guidance of Tuudur Vettik. In Ants Üleoja has worked as a music teacher at Sindi High School (1961–1962) and Tallinn Sikupilli High School (1962– 1964), in 1964–1968 Üleoja was choir conducting teacher at Tallinn Music School. Since 1972 Üleoja has been choir conducting pedagogue Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (since 1979 docent, 1989 professor, 2004 professor emeritus). His students include among others Lauri Breede, Ants Soots, Hirvo Surva, Märt Krell, Anne Kann, Kaisa Roose, Kadri Hunt, Ene Salumäe, Sander Tamm, Erki Pehk, Mikk Üleoja ect.
Ants Üleoja has conducted several choirs. In 1962–1988 he was conductor of Tallinn Chamber Choir, also 1962–1990 Republican State Choir of Choral Conductors and won with the choir II prize and conductor prize at international contest in Varna. In 1966–1990 Ants Üleoja conducted Mixed Choir of Television and Radio (since 1969 principal conductor). In 1991–1977 Ants Üleoja was conductor of Estonian National Male Choir and gave a lot of recitals with the choir including at festivals in Finland and Germany. He also brought on stage large-scales as Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No.2, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 and Dmitri Shostakovich' Symphony No.13, Jean Sibelius’ „Kullervo“, Igor Stravinsky’s „Oedipus Rex“, Urmas Sisask’s Mass No.2. In 1971–1983 Üleoja was principal conductor of Academic Male Choir of Tallinn University of Technology and won with the choir first prize at festival „Tallinn 1975“ international concert and II prize at Glorizia international choir contest in Italy (1978). Ants Üleoja has also been guest conductor of foreign choirs.
Currently Ants Üleoja is conductor of Engineers Male Choir, which was founded by Üleoja in 1978. The choir has participated during 26 years at several song contests and has won I prize at international contest in Riva del Garda (Italy, 1990), Frederic Schubert’s Song Contest in Vienna (1995) and „Tallinn 1991“ (Estonia, also II prize at the same contest in 1997), Estonian Male Choir Contest (1998, also II prize at 2008). Since 1995 Anta Üleoja is conductor of Oonurme Mixed Choir. Ants Üleoja has given recitals with his choirs abroad including Germany, Finland, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark and France.
Atns Üleoja has recorded over 400 music piece for Estonian Public Broadcast among other several premiers of Estonian composers. He has brought on stages large-scales as George Frideric Handel’s Messiah, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B minor, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Missa solemnis and Mass in C major, Requiems by Cyrillus Kreek, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Brahms, Giuseppe Verdi and Antonín Dvořák’s, Joseph Haydn’s Seasons, Arthur Honegger’s King David, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, Carl Orff’s Triumph of Aphrodite, Sergey Rachmaninoff’s Bells, Giachino Rossinis Stabat Mater, Georgy Sviridov’s Poem in Memory of Sergei Yesenin.
Since 1972 Ants Üleoja has been conductor of Estonian Song and Dance Celebrations. In 1990 he was also artistic director of the celebration and 1971–1984 conductor of Baltic Student' Song and Dance Festival "Gaudeamus" (including artistic director of the festival in 1974, and principal conductor of Estonian choirs in Vilnius, 1978). In addition Üleoja has conducted at several local song celebrations. In 2014 Ants Üleoja will be conductor of mixed choirs at XXVI Song Celebration “Aja puudutus. Puudutuse aeg”. („Touched by Time. The Time to Touch“).
Since 1983 Ants Üleoja has given lectures in Vigala for choir conductors and music teachers. He has assembled choir music compilatias as Laule segakoorile (Songs for Mixed Choirs, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981), Meeskoorilaule (Male Choir Songs, 1977) and Advendilaulud (Advent Songs, 2003). He has also participated at jury’s work of choir contests and national music examinations.
Ants Üleoja has been chairman of Estonian Choral Association Music Panel, board member Estonian Choral Association Music Commision and Estonian Mixed Choir`s Association. He is board member of Estonian Male Choir Association and member of music panel. In 1972 Ants Üleoja was given title Estonian SSR Culture Figure and Estonian People’s Artist of the USSR. In 1998 Üleoja was given Annual Prize of Estonian Cultural Endowment and 1998 Gustav Ernesaks scholarship. In addition he has rewarded Order of the White Star, 3rd class (2001) and Tallinn University of Techonlogy distinguished Service Medal „Mente et Manu“ (2006). Kersti Inno has written book about Ants Üleoja Koorijuhiks sündinud. Ants Üleoja (Born as a choir conductor. Ants Üleoja, 2006). Also two DVD-s Ants Üleoja. Koorijuhi portree läbi aasta 2005–2006 (Ants Üleoja. Portrait of choir conductor through the year 2005 –2006) and Ants Üloja, Juubeliõhtu jäädvustus Estonias (Ants Üleoja. Jubilee at Estonia Concert Hall, 2007) has been published.
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