PROGRAMME

Agustín Lara (1897–1970)
Granada

André Waignein (1942–2015)
Little Rhapsody

Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825–1889)
Fantaisie and Variations – on a theme from Bellini’s opera Norma

Jaan Sööt (1964*)
Vala veini / Pour the Wine

Jacques Rueff (1896–1978)
Fantaisie Concertante / Concert Fantasy

Mitch Leigh (1928–2014)
The Impossible Dream – from the musical Man of La Mancha

Herbert L. Clarke (1867–1945)
Victory

Jose Rafael Pascual-Vilaplana (1971*)
Les Noches de Manya / Manya Nights

Pietro Baldassare (1683–1768)
Sonata in B major
II Grave
III Allegro

Edward Elgar (1857–1934)
Salut d´Amour / Love’s Greeting

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759)
Where’er You Walk

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Jesus bleibet meine Freude / Jesus Remains My Joy

Traditionals / arr. Bert Lochs (1966*)
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
O´ When The Saints

NEEME OTS is Estonia’s leading trumpet soloist, who began his trumpet studies at Tallinn Music High School under his father, A. Ots. He continued his studies at the Sibelius Academy, earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree under P. Kulku, T. Lundell, and S. Rantanen (2007). During his studies, he furthered his training through the Erasmus program at the Royal Conservatory in Madrid in Professor Enrique Rioja’s trumpet class (2012–2013). Ots has won prizes at numerous national and international competitions and participated in masterclasses with M. André, A. D. Illada, E. Chulia, J. Bolšijanovi, R. Friedrich, J. Gansch, and G. Cassone. As a chamber musician, Ots has collaborated with pianists I. Zahharenkova, R. Taal, J. Kapp, and M. Martin, and singers K. Pärtna, P. Lille, R. Nahapetjan, M. Palm, M. Voites, and A. Teemets. Since 2006, he has had a close collaboration with organist T. Tenno, and in 2015 they released the album Baroque Pictures. Ots has appeared as a soloist with the chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica, performing Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1 with Y. Avdeev (2016). He has also soloed with the Polish Chamber Philharmonic, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Narva City Orchestra, and several Estonian wind orchestras. Ots worked as a solo trumpeter with the Madrid Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (2012–2014), and this collaboration has continued on a project basis to the present. He has also performed with the Spanish National Symphony Orchestra, Lapland Chamber Orchestra, European Royal Ensemble, and RO Estonia. Ots has served as principal trumpet in numerous prestigious youth orchestras, including the World Youth Wind Orchestra, German-Scandinavian Symphony Orchestra, Baltic Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra. With these orchestras, he has performed in venues such as Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, Finlandia Hall Helsinki, Musiikkitalo, and the Berlin Philharmonie. In 2023, the album Kiirteel by H. Rebane was released, featuring Ots, accordionist H. Rebane, and organist T. Tenno. Ots is artistic director of several festivals and courses: Aavo Otsa Trumpet Summer Academy in Suure-Jaani, the International Festival and Competition Trumpet Talents Tallinn, International Võru Brass Days, Tallinn Wind Festival, and Neeme Ots Trumpet Summer Academy in Hiiumaa. He currently teaches trumpet (EQF Level 7, senior teacher) at MUBA, Viimsi Music School, and Tallinn Music School. He also leads the Estonian Youth Brass, MUBA Brass, and Estonian Youth Concert Orchestra. Ots received the Estonian Choral Association’s Organizer of the Year award (2024) and is a PLMF Foundation scholarship holder.

TIIA TENNO is one of Estonia’s most distinguished organists, both as a soloist and ensemble partner. She graduated from Tartu Heino Eller Music School in piano (teacher A. Antson) and from EMTA (prof. H. Lepnurm, I. Maidre, A. Uibo) as well as Herford Higher Church Music School in organ (Germany). She has also furthered her studies at the Hamburg Higher Music School (prof. W. Zerer) and participated in masterclasses with renowned organists (B. Haas, W. Zerer, J. Laukvik, A. Marconi, P. van Dijk, E. Kooiman). Since 1996, Tenno has worked at Tallinn St. John’s Church as organist and choir director and is a founder and board member of the St. John’s Church Organ Fund. She has also worked as organist-choirmaster at Schnathorst Church in Germany and Lunde Church in Norway, and was head of the Church Music Department at the Estonian Institute of Theology (2004–2007). Tenno has collaborated with many outstanding performers (P. Lill, O. Sinkova, N. Ots, T. Vavilov, A. Teemets, and others) and performed numerous solo concerts in Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Estonia. She has appeared repeatedly at the Tallinn International Organ Festival, Tallinn Chamber Music Festival, Rapla Church Music Festival, and others. As a soloist, she has collaborated with the Estonian-Finnish Baroque Orchestra and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. Her performances have been recorded extensively by ERR and on several compilation albums: Estonian Historic Organs (ERES, 2000); Baroque Pictures with trumpeter N. Ots (2015). Tenno has been a member of EOÜ since 1999 and EIL since 2014. She is a PLMF Foundation scholarship holder.

MEELI OTS studied at Tallinn Music High School under R. Taras and at Tallinn Conservatory under L. Mets in piano. She briefly studied organ with H. Lepnurm. She currently works as a concertmaster at MUBA and EMTA. She has performed with many internationally recognized soloists such as P. Sheridan, J. Gansch, K. Groth, and J. Harjanne. Long-term collaborators include N. Birk, A. Kontus, I. Kiiv, J. Leiten, K. Kuljus, I. Tillemann, E. Möller, and M. Kuuskmann. Ots has been recognized as the best concertmaster at several national and international competitions. At the Concertino Praga radio competition, Meeli Ots received the special diploma for concertmaster.

PIRET RANDAL graduated as a pianist from Tallinn Music High School (teachers Ü. Sisa, prof. B. Lukk) and EMTA (prof. B. Lukk, prof. A. Juozapėnaitė). She has performed as a soloist with orchestras and given solo and chamber concerts in Finland, Latvia, France, and other countries. Randal has been concertmaster for RO Estonia soloists V. Tāluma, U. Tauts, K. Parmas, and P. Lille’s opera studios. Since 2012, she has worked as concertmaster at Tallinn Music School. She has performed with Estonian youth musicians at international competitions and in Finland, Åland, Italy, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, and other countries. Randal currently collaborates with soloists from the UK opera company Opera Mint.