Tallinna Muusikakeskkooli noortekoor

foto Kaupo Kikkas

Youth Choir of Tallinn Music High School has originated in 2008 from a Children`s Choir of the school, that has existed since the founding of the school in 1961. Since 1992 it has been led by Ingrid Kõrvits and the choirmaster is Jaanika Kuusik. The singers in the choir are in ages 13-20 and they all learn an instrument as their main subject. Singing in the choir also gives singers the opportunity to express themselves through voice and supports their instrument studies.

The choir is active in giving concerts. They have performed all over Estonia, also in Finland, Sweden, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Spain and Austria. They have sung in all Estonian Song Celebrations and participated in many projects in cooperation with the Estonian Concert,  the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, the Pitea County (Sweden) youth choir and youth orchestra, Hannover Girls Choir and many well-known Estonian conductors and composers. The choir has had memorable projects with Tallinn Music High School’s symphony orchestra and chamber choir.

The choir has participated in several competitions. As a children`s choir:

2003 – 1st rate diploma in the V International Children's and Youth Choirs Contest "Dainu Versme" in Vilnius, Lithuania

2004 – I prize in the V International Religious Music Festival "Silver Bells" in Daugavpils, Latvia

2005 – Grand Prix – The Silver Rose Bowl in the International Euroradio (EBU) Choir Contest “Let the Peoples Sing” in Cologne, Germany

2006 – III prize in the 38. International Choral Contest “Tolosa 2006” in Spain

As a youth choir:

2008 – I prize in categories of youth choirs and sacred music in the International Franz Schubert competition in Vienna, Austria

2009 – II prize (I prize was not given) in categories of childrens and youth choirs in the International Choral Contest “Tallinn 2009” in Estonia

2010 – Grand Prix in the VIII International Pärnu Choral Festival in Estonia

2010 – I prize in category of folkmusic, II prize in category of sacred music and conductor`s prize in the International  Choral Competition “Heart of Europe” in Gelnhausen, Germany 

2011 - I prize in category of youth choirs and conductor`s prize in the International Choral Competition "Tallinn 2011"

2011 - I prize in categories of childrens and youth choirs in the International Euroradio (EBU) Choral Contest “Let the Peoples Sing” in Salford, England

Before Christmas 2006 a CD “New and Old Christmas Songs” was recorded with the Estonian Television Girls Choir and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra (conductor Lauri Sirp). In 2009 Choir released the CD “Heliseb väljadel” (“Ringing on the Fields”).

The choir was awarded as The Choir of The Year 2005 and 2010 by Estonian Choral Society.

             

foto Kaupo Kikkas

Ingrid Kõrvits (1968) graduated from Tallinn Music High School in 1986 as a choral conductor and the Tallinn State Conservatory (now the Estonian Academy of  Theatre and Music) in 1992, majoring again in choral conducting. She has worked as a conductor with the "Ellerhein" Children's Choir since 1987 and as a music theory teacher and the Children's choir conductor since 1992 and youth choir conductor since 2008 in Tallinn Music High School. She also teaches choir conducting at the same school. Since March 2011 she is also the conductor of the "Ellerhein" Girls Choir.

She has sung in several choirs - the "Mainor" chamber choir, the Tallinn Town Hall Chamber Choir, the Haapsalu Medieval Music Festival Choir, the "Vox Europae" mixed choir. 

Ingrid Kõrvits was the general director of children's choirs in the IX Youth Song Celebration year 2002 and  X Youth Song Celebration year 2007 in Tallinn. She was also the general director of children's choirs in the XXV Song Celebration year 2009 and XI Youth Song Celebration year 2011 in Tallinn.

With her choirs Ingrid Kõrvits has won several prizes in the national and international choral competitions. In 2010 she achieved the conductor`s prize in the International  Choral Competition “Heart of Europe” in Gelnhausen, Germany and in 2011 in the international Choral Competition "Tallinn 2011" .

In 2005 Ingrid Kõrvits was awarded the Annual Prize of the Endowment for Music of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and in 2010 the Annual Prize of the Endowment for Folk Culture of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. She was awarded as The Conductor of The Year 2010 by Estonian Choral Society.