Tõnu Sepp (born June 14, 1946) 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 ...

n music teacher and a figure in

early music Early music generally comprises Medieval music (500–1400) and Renaissance music (1400–1600), but can also include Baroque music (1600–1750) or Ancient music (before 500 AD). Originating in Europe, early music is a broad Dates of classical ...

. He has been called the "grand old man" of early music in Estonia.Sirp: „Taanieli mäng” – peast ja eesti keeles
/ref> In 1971, in

Viljandi Viljandi (, , , , ) is a Populated places in Estonia, town and Municipalities of Estonia, municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 17,255 in 2024. It is the capital of Viljandi County and is geographically located between two major ...

, Sepp laid the ground for early music education in Estonia and also founded the first early music ensemble in Estonia. In 1982, he launched the internationally famous Viljandi Early Music Festival.Sirp: Katse portreteerida festivali
/ref> Since 1995, his

master class ''Master Class'' is a 1995 play by American playwright Terrence McNally, presented as a fictional master class by opera singer Maria Callas near the end of her life, in the 1970s. The play features incidental vocal music by Giuseppe Verdi, Giac ...

in Tallinn Old Town Educational College has grown into the Musica Silentii studio.Tõnu Sepp ja stuudio Vaikuse Muusika
/ref> The studio has been active in

Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,759 (as of 2024). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the ...

since 2006. Sepp is also a renowned maker of musical instruments, having made hundreds of early music instruments.

References

Performers of early music Founders of early music ensembles Flute makers Harp makers 1946 births Living people 20th-century Estonian musicians 21st-century Estonian musicians {{Estonia-academic-bio-stub