Ministry of Culture supports the foreign journeys of youth music collectives by 360 000 Estonian crowns to participate on international competitions, festivals or concert tours. Laine Jänes, the minister of culture, signed the directive which says that the ministry allocates an endowment to seventeen choirs and orchestras in all. Marko Lõhmus, the music adviser of ministry of culture, says that the purpose of this support is to help to introduce Estonian musical culture internationally, also to increase the motivation of collectives.
The ministry supports following projects through the program called Estonian Youth Collectives on International Arena: the orchestra of Tallinn Music High School participating in a competition Youth and Music in Vienna, the mixed choir of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre participating in an international choir competition Tolosa 2008, the boys’ choir of Estonian National Opera participating in an international festival for male and boys’ choirs in Czech Republic, the chamber choir of Tallinn Music High School having a concert tour in Italy, St. Michael’s Boys’ Choir having concert tours in Czech Republic and Poland, Academical Female Choir of University of Tartu participating in a choir competition in Cork, Ireland, Riinimanda choirs having a concert tour in Germany, Pärnu Youth Brass Band participating in 11th European brass music festival Schlema 2008, Ellerhein having concert tour in Tours, the chamber choir of Nõmme Music School participating in 36th international choir festival Festival of Songs Olomouc 2008, the maids’ choir Leelo of Estonian Female Choir Association participating in 5th international competition for youth choirs, South Estonian Youth Brass Band performing in Austria, the maids’ choir of Pärnu’s Elisabeth’s congregation participating in an international choir festival Slovakia Cantat 2008 in Bratislava, the Estonian-wide boys’ choir Kalev of Estonian Male Choir Association participating in a competition in Neerpelt, the choir called Pöial-Liisi of Pärnu Arts House participating in an international choir competition Slovakia Cantat 2008 and the children choir Do-Re-Mi participating in a festival II Carda in Coro in Italy.
The Ministry of Culture initiated the program called Estonian Youth Collectives on International Arena last year, back then only youth choirs got supported. This year the budget has grown and also the youth orchestras have been involved to the program. The ministry finds it beneficial to support youth collectives because a number of the collectives come back from the competition with a prize or a victory.
Maria Mölder