Estonian National Male Choir () is an
Estonia
Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...
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male choir. As of about 2020, it is the largest full-time professional male choir in the world.
The choir was founded in 1944 by
Gustav Ernesaks
Gustav Ernesaks (12 December 1908 – 24 January 1993) was an Estonian composer and a choir conducting, conductor.
Biography
Gustav Ernesaks was born on 12 December 1908 in Perila, Estonia. He was educated at the Estonian Academy of Music an ...
. At the beginning, the choir was named as ''Estonian SSR State Philharmonic Male Choir''. In 1953, the choir was named to ''State Academic Male Choir'', and since 1989 the choir carries the name Estonian National Male Choir.
Chief conductors:
* 1944–1975 Gustav Ernesaks
* 1964–1991 Olev Oja
* 1966–1990 Kuno Areng
* 1991–1997 Ants Üleoja
* 1994–2005, 2008–2011 Ants Soots
* 2005–2008 Kaspars Putninš
* since 2011/2012 Mikk Üleoja
During its existence of over 60 years, the choir has given over 6000 concerts in Estonia and abroad.
Awards:
* 2004
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...
in the category "Best Choral Performance"
* 2005 Orchestral Album of the Year, voted in BBC Music Magazine
References
Estonian choirs
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