Heljo Sepp

October 15, 1922, Valga - November 27, 2015, Tallinn

Heljo Sepp was an outstanding pianist, researcher and promoter of Heino Eller's piano works, also a long-time pedagogue at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Heljo Sepp began piano studies in Valga Music School, where she studied in 1930–34. In 1934–38, she took private piano lessons with Heino Eller's wife Anna Eller, also receiving lessons in music theory with Heino Eller. In 1938, Sepp was the winner of the International Youth Piano Competition, the British Council’s Music Prize for music and a 3-year scholarship, which allowed to improve her skills at the London's Royal Academy of Music with Vivian Langerish. Studies discontinued in 1939 as the World War II began.

In 1943–47, Sepp studied at the Tallinn Conservatoire in Heino Eller's composition class and Bruno Lukk's piano class, graduating in 1947 as a pianist and pedagogue. In 1949–1952, Sepp continued her postgraduate studies at the Moscow Conservatoire under supervision by one of the most eminent professor, Heinrich Neuhaus. Her dissertation of Heino Eller's compositions has also publised as a book.
In 1947–49, Sepp worked at the Tallinn School of Music as a piano teacher and in 1952–1995 at the Estonian State Conservatory, later at the Estonian Academy of Music, serving as the head of the piano department from 1971 to 1981. Since 1994, she was Professor Eremitus of the Estonian Academy of Music.

Heljo Sepp has always been one of Estonia's most popular and most loved pianists, who has placed a particular emphasis on her repertoire of Heino Eller's piano works promotion, often being the first performer of composer's piano works. Sepp has titled Eller's most known piano work "Homeland Tune" and composer has dedicated this piece to her. Her writings of Eller has been publihed in books "Piano Music by Heino Eller" (1958) and "Heino Eller in Words and Pictures" (1967).

In addition to solo career, Sepp has also played in ensembles often performing with violinist Vladimir Alumäe.

Heljo Sepp has given the honorable title of Estonian SSR Merited Art Worker (1957). She was a member of the Estonian Composers' Union since 1966 and laureate of Music Foundation Prize (2004). She has been awarded Heino Eller Music Prize (1998).

Heljo Sepp has been teacher for half a hundred students, among them well-known Aino Himbek, Lilian Semper, Ülev Saare, Hiie Lätte, Jüri Plink, Tiiu Rand, Tiina Kurik, Peep Lassmann, Mart Humal, Helju Tauk, Marje Lohuaru, Niina Majorova, Iren Lill, Ela Eelhein, Kai Õunpuu, Riine Pajusaar ect.

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