Ellerhein / EMP 2026 • Estonian Music Days 2026 „STORIES“ / EMP 2026

April 11 at 13:00

St. John’s Church, Tallinn

Ellerhein Girls’ Choir 

Conductor Ingrid Kõrvits 

Programme:

Mart Saar (1882–1963) – Nature’s Greetings to the Sun (1924, from fairy tale play Lost Princess, text Julius Oro)

Mart Saar – The Song Leader (1910, text folklore)

Veljo Tormis (1930–2017) – Summer Motifs (1969, from Nature Pictures, text Aleksander Suuman)

Veljo Tormis – Sad Singer (1971, from Songs About Song and the Singer, text folklore)

Mariliis Valkonen (b. 1981) – A Leaf of Memory Bloomed on the Tree of Life (2026, premiere, text Mats Traat)

Kristo Matson (b. 1980) – What Was Before Me (2026, premiere, text Viiu Härm)

Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) – Peace upon you, Jerusalem (2002, text psalm 122) 

Urmas Sisask (1960–2022) – It Rings Out Over the Fields (from cycle 12 Songs in Honor of the Holy Virgin Maria Op. 41, text from Catholic Prayer book)

Urmas Sisask – Benedicamus Patrem Op. 90 (2003, text from the Benedicite, Book of Daniel)

Ellerhein Girls’ Choir, founded in 1951 by the legendary music educator and conductor Heino Kaljuste, is one of Estonia’s most acclaimed youth ensembles. The choir has won numerous international awards, received a Grammy (2004), and performed in prestigious concert halls worldwide. Since 2012, the choir has been led by Chief Conductor Ingrid Kõrvits. The concert program features new works (Mariliis Valkonen, Kristo Matson) alongside beloved Estonian choral classics (Mart Saar, Veljo Tormis, Arvo Pärt, Urmas Sisask).

The choir’s vocal coach is Egle Veltmann, choir master Ülle Sander.

The concert is held in collaboration with Tallinn Music Week.

FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

▩ 11.04 St. John’s Church, Tallinn: Ellerhein Girls’ Choir | M. Valkonen*, K. Matson*, V. Tormis, A. Pärt, U. Sisask

▩ 11.04 Club Hall: „The Birth of Light“ | Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, E. Kont, V. Krigul, J. Mikk | M. Rostovtseva*, A. I. Susi*, L. Jürgens*

▩ 11.04 Estonia Concert Hall Café | Panel Discussion: What is the Breeding Ground for New Music Theatre? (free admission, max 30 participants, see the 0-ticket from pre-sale)

▩ 11.04 Estonia Concert Hall: Estonian National Male Choir & Ensemble of the Estonian Electronic Music Society | A. Kruusmaa*, J. Tarm*, G. J. Salumäe* jt

▩ 12.04 MUBA: String Quartet M4GNET | A.-M. Noorhani*, T. Kozlova-Johannes*, G. Kulla*, M. M. Gildemann*

▩ 12.04 House of Blackheads (Olaf’d Guild Hall) | „Estonian Music Abroad“ 

▩ 12.04 Estonian Centre for Contemporary Music | Panel Discussion – Freedom, Boundaries, and Sounds: The Paths of Estonian Contemporary Music in the World (free admission, max 30 participants, see the 0-ticket from pre-sale)

▩ 13.04 Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Concert Hall, Main Hall: EMTA sinfonietta | Student New Works

▩ 14.04 Estonian National Opera Chamber Hall: Ludensemble | M. Liik*, E. Masing*, L. Jõeleht*, M. M. Gildemann, J. Reinvere

▩ 14.04 Estonian Centre for Contemporary Music | Residentuu:r 2026: Transmission. Communication. Media 3 (free admission, max 30 participants, see the 0-ticket from pre-sale)

▩ 15.04 Estonian National Opera Chamber Hall: Broken Frames Syndicate (Germany) „HELLO DARKNESS“ | A. Thorvaldsdottir, P. Schäfer, S. Hennies, M. Maltis, T. Kozlova-Johannes*, M. Gordon

▩ 16.04 St. John’s Chuch, Tallinn: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Cantoque Ensemble (Iceland) | H. Tulve*, R. E. Maimets*, H. Guðmundsson*, F. Martin

▩ 17.04 Estonia Concert Hall: Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, H. C. Aavik, H.-R. Leivategija, S. d’Amico | L. Hirsch*, R. E. Maimets, E.-S. Tüür, L. Sumera

▩ 18.04 Musical Tartu City Tour with Alo Põldmäe (free admission, 30 bus vacancies, see the 0-ticket from pre-sale)

▩ 18.04 Heino Eller Tartu Music College, Tubin Hall: „Young Composer“ Competition Final Concert, free admission

▩ 18.04 University of Tartu Museum: Quiet Music Ensemble (Ireland) | L. Hõbepappel*, M.-M. Lill*, K. Power, A. Murray

▩ 18.04 Tartu Literature House: Stories in Word and Music | A. R. Varres, R. Jürjendal, K. Ehin, U. Vadi, V. Mikita

▩ 19.04 Tallinn City Tour with Jan Kaus

▩ 19.04 Heino Eller Tartu Music College, Tubin Hall: String Quartet M4GNET | A.-M. Noorhani*, T. Kozlova-Johannes*, G. Kulla*, M. M. Gildemann*

▩ 19.04 Arvo Pärt Centre: Quiet Music Ensemble (Ireland) | L. Hõbepappel*, M.-M. Lill*, K. Power, A. Murray

The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the program.

More information:

www.estonianmusicdays.com 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/eestimuusikapaevad 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/estonianmusicdays/