Tõnu Kaljuste

Tõnu Kaljuste ( born August 28, 1953 in Tallinn) is an Estonian conductor.

Early years

Tõnu Kaljuste was born as the son of Estonian conductor Heino Kaljuste (1925-1989) and the radio journalist Lia Kaljuste. In 1971 he graduated from the Tallinn Music High School ( Tallinna Muusikakeskkool ). Subsequently, he studied until 1976 at the National Conservatory in Tallinn (now Estonian Academy of Music) Choral and orchestral conducting. From 1976 to 1978 he deepened his knowledge at the Conservatory in Leningrad.

Conductor

From 1971, conducted the Kaljuste founded by his father in 1966 Ellerhein Chamber Choir was founded in 1974 and its director. From 1978 to 1980 was Tõnu Kaljuste lecturer in choral conducting at the Tallinn State Conservatory and from 1978 to 1985 conductor of the Estonian National Opera.

1980 won the Ellerhein Chamber Choir and Tõnu Kaljuste the first prize at the 9th Béla Bartók Choir Competition in Hungary. In 1981 he became chorus in The State Philharmonic Chamber Choir of the Estonian SSR was renamed (later Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir ). Since that time Tõnu Kaljuste operates exclusively as a conductor. He remained until 2001, chief conductor of the choir.

International career

From 1994 to 2000 he was chief conductor of the Swedish Radio Choir and from 1998 to 2000 chief conductor of the Netherlands Chamber Choir. In 2004 he received the first prize of the Estonian state Kultuurkapital Foundation. Since 2004 Kaljuste conductor of Nargen Festival, an annual, three-month music event on the coast of Estonia.