Choir

The Estonian National Male Choir, awarded a Grammy in the choral category in 2004, is one of the most unique “instruments” in the world. The group, which currently consists of 46 singers, was founded in 1944 by Gustav Ernesaks, the “father of Estonian choral music”. Over the course of eight decades, the choir has shaped Estonia’s international reputation as a country with a deep choral heritage and has been a leading advocate for the music of Estonian composers, most notably Veljo Tormis. The choir has given more than 7,000 concerts, ranging from Estonia to North America and Asia, and has performed under renowned conductors such as Paul Hillier, Eric Ericson, Kaspars Putniņš, Teodor Currentzis, and Kent Nagano, among others.

Since 2011, the Estonian National Male Choir has been led by Chief Conductor Mikk Üleoja, under whose direction the ensemble has made a remarkable qualitative leap and become a sought-after partner in performances of large-scale oratorio repertoire with the world’s leading orchestras and festivals. The choir is an active commissioner of new works and an initiator of collaborative projects, presenting several new a cappella programmes each year that span repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day. Recording plays a significant role in the choir’s activities: its extensive discography encompasses both Estonian choral classics and contemporary music, released on prestigious labels such as Toccata Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, Sony, Ondine, and Aurora, and has garnered wide international attention and critical acclaim.

Today, the Estonian National Male Choir unites deep respect for its history and heritage with an open, forward-looking artistic vision. Its mission is to sustain and advance male-choral singing as a vital and compelling art form, offering audiences musical experiences of the highest quality and lasting significance.