The European Choir of Estonians


In September 2006, the committee of the EÜSL Project choir in Germany sent out an invitation to Estonians living in Europe to form the European Choir of Estonians. The main aims of this new choir are to participate in ESTO 2009 and the XXV Song Festival in Tallinn also in 2009.

We already have some experience of how a choir like this works. In 2003, the mixed choir of Estonians in Germany was formed in order to participate in the Song Festival in Tallinn 2004. The choir was named the EÜSL Project Choir (EÜSL stands for the Association of Estonians in the Federal Republic of Germany). This choir is still meeting and performing in its own right.

The choir members meet at workshops: traditionally the last weekend in January, in October (usually at Haus Annaberg near Bonn) and at a summer workshop in Estonia (during the last week of July). Apart from these workshops, there are other smaller gatherings and performances.

The EÜSL Project Choir has strong links with the Belgian Estonian Choir, BEENE. We also take part in their choir workshops. We have performed in Germany, Belgium, and, in the summer, in Estonia which included taking part in the 2004 Song Festival.

In order for the choir to function successfully, we need to have very concrete aims which will persuade choir members from different countries to come together. We require very good conductors; an appropriate and attractive repertoire (consisting mainly of Estonian choral music and Estonian folk music); high quality organisation; dates for workshops need to be advertised well in advance and choir members must be prepared to work independently (singers receive a CD of choir’s repertoire).

We have received positive responses from Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, England, Finland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the Ukraine. The idea for forming a European Choir of Estonians was also supported by the Estonian Round Table which took place in Brussels on 02.12.06.

Some interested singers already joined in the EÜSL Project Choir workshop in January 2007 in Bonn. Singers from Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and England attended.

The new choir’s first serious meeting is planned for 23rd to 27th/28th July 2007 at Sangaste Castle in Estonia.
The workshop will finish with concerts performed at Sangaste on the evening of 26th July and the afternoon of 27th July and, on 28th July, we have also been asked to take part in the 30th anniversary of the Haaslava Men’s Choral Singing Day where other Estonian expatriate choirs will also be participating. There are also plans for a Round Table meeting for Estonians on the evening of Thursday 26th July, the theme of which is Estonians at home and abroad. Good attendance and some interesting speakers are expected.

The choir’s objectives are as follows:
  • to unite expatriate Estonians via common interests and activities.
  • to offer Estonians the opportunity of participating in ESTO 2009 and the XXV Song Festival in Tallinn (2009).
  • to introduce Estonian culture to other European countries
  • to raise awareness about the activities of expatriate Estonians within Estonia.
    •
Action plan:
By the beginning of 2007, two choirs and 25 individual singers from 10 different European countries had expressed an interest in joining the choir. The choir also aims to be registered in Estonia as an MTÜ (non profit making organisation). Why in Estonia? Although the choir originated in Germany, we are now dealing with a significantly wider geographical project.

Conductors:
Kalev Lindal (Haaslava Choir and the Estonian Choir in Germany)
Lauri Breede (teacher at the Elleri Music School, Tartu and conductor of the Estonian Choir in Germany)
Kaido Janke (tenor in the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, conductor of the Lehtse Chamber Choir and conductor of the BEENE choir in Germany)

How will the new choir operate?
Choir members will take part in workshops similar to the EÜSL choir workshops: in 2007 in July and October; in 2008 in January and July. The choir has been invited to perform at Catthorpe Manor in England at the Estonian annual Summer Day celebrations on 25th August and also in Göteborg from 27th to 30th September at ESTIVAL 07.

Choir members will receive a CD of the repertoire (including different voice groups)

Financial arrangements
We do not wish anyone to be prevented from taking part in the activities of the choir due to financial constraints and, therefore, the committee has decided to apply for financial support from the Estonian Culture Fund. The choir has been promised financial support from the Association of Estonians in Great Britain (IEÜ), the Estival 07 committee in Sweden and also from the EÜSL Project Choir.

The choir will also be registered in Estonia as a non-profit making organisation the, “MTÜ European Choir of Estonians”. We also regard as very important working together with the Ministry for Culture in Estonia, the Association of Choirs in Estonia, the Estonian press and, of course, with Estonian organisations abroad.

Mare Rahkema
/Project Manager
European Choir of Estonians/

Im Wolfhagen 29a
42929 Wermelskirchen
Germany

Tel.: 0049 2196 972944
Wermelskirchen, 10.05.2007