PROGRAM

Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Three Romances for Oboe and Piano, Op. 94
I Not fast
II Simple, heartfelt
III Not fast

Florent Schmitt (1870–1958)
Légende for Saxophone and Piano, Op. 66

Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)
Sonata for Oboe and Piano
I Élégie
II Scherzo
III Déploration

Jenni Brandon (1977*)
Trio “Places We Are From” for Oboe, Saxophone, and Piano

RIIVO KALLASMAA, oboist and singer, has received his musical education in Estonia as well as at higher education institutions in Brussels and Jerusalem. He has worked with the three most important symphony orchestras in Estonia—the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra of the Estonian National Opera, and the Vanemuine Theatre Symphony Orchestra—and also collaborates regularly with the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and Klaaspärlimäng Sinfonietta. Kallasmaa has also worked with NYYD Ensemble, Estonia’s first ensemble specializing in contemporary music, and performs with groups such as the Tartu New Music Ensemble, Ensemble Voces Musicales, and Kremerata Baltica. Several composers have written works specifically with him in mind, including Tõnu Steiner, Timo Steiner, Helena Tulve, Riho Puur, Pärt Uusberg, Rein Rannap (Oboe Concerto, autumn 2019), and Märt-Matis Lill (Oboe Concerto, spring 2020). Currently, Kallasmaa collaborates with the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Pori Sinfonietta, and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. In 2006, he won the Con Brio performers’ competition. As a soloist and chamber musician, he has performed in many European countries. In June 2014, he participated in the international chamber music festival Horten Kammermusikkfest. Among other distinctions, Kallasmaa has been awarded the title of Young Cultural Contributor of Tartu. Together with soprano Jaanika Kuusik, he is a member of Duo ObSolute, founded in 2018, which is gaining recognition both in Estonia and internationally. In 2023, Duo ObSolute released its first album. For many years, Kallasmaa has also been active as a singer in the internationally renowned vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis, which combines Gregorian chant with contemporary music.

VIRGO VELDI is one of Estonia’s most outstanding performers. He graduated from the Georg Ots Tallinn Music School (1988; teachers Villu Veski and Prof. Olev Kasemaa) and the Tallinn Conservatory (1993; Prof. Kasemaa). He earned his Master’s degree at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (1997; Prof. Kasemaa) and at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (2004; Prof. Pekka Savijoki). Veldi won Third Prize at the Estonian Woodwind Players’ Competition in Tallinn (1990) and First Prize along with the Audience Prize at the Estonian Young Performers’ Competition Con Brio (1996). He has worked as a saxophone teacher at the Georg Ots Tallinn Music School and the Sibelius Upper Secondary School in Helsinki. Since 2001, Veldi has been a faculty member at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (associate professor since 2012) and has given masterclasses in various European countries. He has appeared as a saxophone soloist with numerous renowned orchestras and participated in projects of the NYYD Ensemble. Veldi has been invited to perform at many festivals and has collaborated with conductors such as Andrei Rjabov, Nikolai Aleksejev, Tõnu Kaljuste, Toomas Leinatamm, Risto Joost, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Toomas Vavilov, and others. Several Estonian composers—including Tõnu Kõrvits, Galina Grigorjeva, Timo Tulev, René Eespere, and Pärt Uusberg—have written works specifically for him. Veldi has given a large number of chamber music concerts both in Estonia and abroad. His chamber music partners have included Ivari Ilja, Ralf Taal, Peeter Paemurru, Madis Mikalai, Kristjan Randalu, Tanel Lepnurm, Ülo Krigul, Age Juurikas, and Jaanika Kuusik, among many others. He has also performed in pop music concerts with artists such as Anne Veski, Ivo Linna, Dave Benton, Koit Toome, and Tanel Padar, and was a long-time saxophonist with the band 2QS. From 1999 to 2014, he was a member and artistic director of the saxophone quartet SaxEst. Virgo Veldi is a scholarship holder of the PLMF Musicians’ Fund.

MAILA LAIDNA graduated cum laude from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with a Master’s degree in piano and chamber music, studying with Tanel Joamets and Prof. Marrit Gerretz-Traksmann. From 2013 to 2014, she continued her studies at the Vigo Higher Conservatory of Music in Spain. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies in chamber music at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under the supervision of Prof. Marrit Gerretz-Traksmann, Madis Mikalai, and Prof. Kristjan Pappel. Laidna has achieved notable success in competitions: she won Third Prize at the EMTA Chamber Music Competition (2011) and First Prize at the pianists’ competition of the Vigo Higher Conservatory of Music in Spain (2014). She has performed at piano festivals in Santiago de Compostela both as a soloist and chamber musician, as well as at the Spanish international festival Forum Musikae. She has also participated in the activities of the Järvi Academy and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. Since 2013, Laidna has performed in a piano duo with Tiiu Sisask. In 2015, the duo won Third Prize at the 25th Rome International Piano Competition. In 2019, they won First Prize at the Maria Yudina Competition in St. Petersburg and Second Prize at a chamber music competition in Philadelphia. In 2021, the piano duo received the Gold Medal at the 3rd International Piano Competition of the World Piano Teachers Association in Finland. Since 2016, Laidna has been a member of a trio with clarinetist Soo-Young Lee and violinist Miina Laanesaar (Ensemble Auftakt). That same year, they gave the Estonian premiere of Alban Berg’s Adagio (the second movement of the Chamber Concerto). In 2019, Ensemble Auftakt won First Prize in the chamber ensemble category at the 4th Danubia Talents International Competition in Budapest and Third Prize at the Krakow International Music Competition Opus 2021. In spring 2022, the trio won First Prize at the Clara Wieck Schumann Competition and received a finalist diploma at the 10th International Chamber Music Competition “Antón García Abril” in Spain.