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AIVAR MÄE - General Manager
Aivar Mäe studied the clarinet at the Tallinn Secondary Music School from 1976–1979 (Enno Mattisen’s class) and music pedagogy at the Tallinn State Conservatory from 1979–1985 (Ants Sööt’s class). He has further educated himself on conducting and music management in 1991 at the Portland University in the USA (tutor Bruce Browne). In 1978–1979, he played in the Pärnu Orchestra and in 1982–1985 in Tapa Orchestra, and has worked as a senior educationalist at the Scientific Methodological Centre of Folklore and Cultural Work in 1982 and in 1987–1989 as the director of the pop music sector, in 1985–1987 as the soloist of the State Philharmonic Ensemble “Vitamiin” of the ESSR. In 1989–1992, Aivar Mäe worked as the manager of the music department at the Folk Culture Development Centre. He has been the Deputy Manager of Eesti Kontsert in 1993–1998 and the General Manager since 1999 and in 2003–2006 also the General Manager of Vanemuine. He has been in charge of the renovation of the concert halls of Estonia (1997) and Vanemuine (1998) and Jõhvi Concert Hall (2005) as well as the establishment of the Pärnu Concert Hall (2002). Aivar Mäe has received the Annual Prize of the Endowment for Music of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (1997, 1998, 2002), Man of the Year title in Pärnu in 2002 for diversifying Pärnu cultural life and creating new possibilities, the Fifth Class of the Order of the White Star (2003), medal of the city of Tartu (2006) and the title of a real estate guru (2006).
In 1990 he established the chamber choir “Arsis” (active until 1997), in 1993 an eponymous handbell ensemble and in 1996 a children’s hand-bell ensemble, and he is the conductor and artistic director of the groups of “Arsis”. He has won prizes at international competitions with the chamber choir, including in Tours (France, 1991), in Arezzo (Italy, 1992), in Llangullen (Wales 1994) and the third prize in Eisteddfod (Republic of South Africa, 1997) and in Cantonigròs (Catalonia, 1994), the first place in Cork (Ireland, 1996) and in the folk song category in Eisteddfod (1997). At the latter competition he also won the first prize with the handbell ensemble. He has conducted magna opera including “Christmas Cantata” by Honegger and Pinham, Requiem by Rutter and Fauré , Mass by Poulenc and Martin, oratory Judas Maccabaeus by Händel and Handbell Symphony by Peeter Vähi. With his group he has performed in several foreign countries, including in the USA on seven occasions between 1991–2002, several times in Canada, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Finland, etc. He has recorded 4 CDs: “Arsis“ (1994, with the chamber choir), “In Dies” (2000) and “Awake, My Heart” (2003, both with the handbell ensemble), “Lõbus kellamäng” (2000, with the children’s handbell ensemble). He conducted the mixed choir “Olevine” in 1984–90.
• Date of birth: May 12, 1960
• Marital status: married, three children
Education
• 1979–1985 Tallinn State Conservatory, music pedagogy
• 1976–1979 Tallinn Secondary Music School, clarinet
Career
• 2009– Estonian National Opera, General Manager
• 2000–2009 Eesti Kontsert, General Manager
• 2004–2006 Vanemuine, General Manager
• 2003–2004 Vanemuine, Assistant General Manager
• 1999–2000 Eesti Kontsert, Assistant General Manager
• 1993–1998 Eesti Kontsert, Deputy General Manager
• 1992–1993 Estonian Music Association, Manager of the Choir Department, Executive Secretary
• 1989–1992 Folk Culture Development Centre, Manager of the Music Department
• 1987–1989 Scientific Methodological Centre of Folklore and Cultural Work, Manager of the Pop Music Sector
• 1985–1987 State Philharmonics, artist
• 1982–1985 Tapa consumers’ cooperative, member of orchestra
• 1982–1982 Scientific Methodological Centre of Folklore and Cultural Work, Senior Educationalist
Hobbies
• Arsis Handbell Ensemble
Keys to success
• We draw upon our experience, the experience teaches us.
• An organization must engage in its main activity.
• Plan your time so that you have time to be everywhere.
ARVO VOLMER - Artistic Director and Chief Conductor
Arvo Volmer is one of the most acclaimed conductors in Estonia also with widespread international recognition. He is considered one of the foremost Sibelius interpreters in the world and is also highly regarded for his interpretations of Russian composers and contemporary music. He made his conducting debut in 1985 at the Estonian National Opera. From 1987 he was engaged by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ENSO) and held the position of Chief Conductor and Artistic Director in 1993–2001. Arvo Volmer studied at the Tallinn State Conservatory (the current Estonian Music and Theatre Academy) with Professor Olev Oja and Professor Roman Matsov (1980–1985) and at the Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory with Professor Ravil Martynov (1985–1990). He participated in the master classes of Helmuth Rilling in the U.S.
His successful participation in the International Nicolai Malko Competition for Young Conductors in Copenhagen (1989) and subsequent international recognition was quick to follow. Arvo Volmer’s extensive activity as a conductor covers several continents and he has regularly conducted the following renowned orchestras: The BBC Philharmonic (Manchester), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Orchestre National de France and all the major Australian orchestras including Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Arvo Volmer is a regular guest conductor at the leading Scandinavian theatres as well those in Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Ireland, France, Portugal, New Zealand, Israel, Russia, Poland and Lithuania.
Arvo Volmer’s artistic career includes a diverse recording history that includes Estonian and foreign music from the past to the present. The most significant recordings are those of Leevi Madetoja’s complete orchestral works (Alba Records, Oulu Symphony Orchestra), the complete edition of Eduard Tubin’s symphonies (5 CDs; Alba Records, ENSO), the first recording of Tubin’s ballet Goblin in 2005 (Alba Records, ENSO), the first recording of Olli Kortekangas’s opera Messenius and Lucia (Arvo Volmer also conducted the premiere of the opera in Oulu) and Cyrillus Kreek’s Requiem - a unique recording of the original version in Estonian, completed in 1927 (the piece was sung in Latin during Soviet times). Arvo Volmer has led many various musical activities in his home country, including the role of Music Director for the opening program of the 23rd Estonian Song Festival in 1999.
In February 2002, Arvo Volmer received the Estonia State Cultural Award for his broad concert activity and the performances and recording of Eduard Tubin’s symphonies with ENSO. Since 2004, Arvo Volmer has been the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Estonian National Opera as well as the Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Australia.
Arvo Volmer has many theatre engagements outside Estonia, with regular performances at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, the Finnish National Opera and the Norwegian National Opera.
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