Kadri-Ann Sumera

b. August 8, 1977
Member of the Association of Estonian Professional Musicians since 2004

Kadri-Ann Sumera is one of the most outstanding Estonian young pianists whose repertoire comprises a wide range of music from Baroque to present day and who has been prominent as requested performer of contemporary music.

Kadri-Ann Sumera studied in Tallinn Music High School with Merike Bürger, Ülle Sisa and Maigi Pakri, graduated cum laude from the Estonian Academy of Music under Prof. Peep Lassmann in 1999 and obtained Master degree in Köln Hochschule für Musik under Prof. Arbo Valdma in 2004. 2000/2001, Sumera studied as a grantee of DAAD (Deutsche Akademische Austausch Dienst) in Köln Hochschule für Musik, and as a grantee of Internationale Ensemble Modern Akademie in Frankfurt 2004/2005.

Sumera has gained recognition at several competitions: the 2nd prize at the TV-competition “Alternative” for young Baltic musicians in Riga (1997), special prize at the international piano competition of European Piano Teachers’ Association in Zagreb (2003), diploma at the National Competition for Pianists in Estonia (1994) and special prize for the performance of obligatory piece “Sketch 02” at the same (2002).

Kadri-Ann Sumera works as a concert-master in Heino Eller Tartu Music School since 2007 and is active as a host in Estonian classical music radio Klassikaraadio. She has been Estonian Association of Professional Musicians’s grantee in 2006 and 2007, vice chairman of the board since 2007 and chairman since spring 2008.

Sumera has given solo and chamber concerts, she has performed at the festivals in Germany (Arvo Pärt in NRW (2001), Sommerakademie in Bad Sobernheim, Quantensprünge) and Estonia (Estonian Music Days Festival, Estonian Young Composers’ festival and others). Her most important ensemble partners have been mezzo soprano Iris Oja, baritone Taavi Tampuu, cellist Ardo Västrik and saxophonist Hans-Christian Dellinger. She has played in front of the Pärnu City Orchestra and belongs to the ensemble Bipolar.

Sumera is active in the field of contemporary music, she has collaborated with several young composers and given premieres of their works (Märt-Mati Lill, Aaro Pertmann, Malle Maltis, Kristjan Kõrver, Mari Vihmand, Nicolas Gilbert (Canada), Evrim Demirel (Turkey), Santa Ratniece (Latvia)). Sumera has initiated many concerts introducing music by Estonian composers. She took part in the Estonian premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Mantra for two pianos and electronics in 2006.

Kadri-Ann Sumera has released two CDs: „Mart Saar. Bog Bard with a Worldview. Complete Songs I“ (2018) and „Lepo Sumera - Piano music“ (2015). Additionally, she plays piano part of „Mushroom Cantata” on the CD „Lepo Sumera. Mushroom Cantata and other choral works” (BIS, 2005) and performs Lepo Sumera’s piano pieces on the CD „Lepo Sumera. Kammermusik” (Antes Edition, 2002), she has recorded to the Estonian Radio.

Kadri-Ann Sumera's homepage

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