With the support of private capital, Estonian contemporary music composers are recognized with a financial scholarship which is awarded at the Estonian Music Days festival.
This year, the prize is handed out for the seventh time to highlight one Estonian composer whose work deserves international recognition. Last year, a record of 52 works from 42 different composers participated in the competition and Rasmus Puur’s “Violin Concerto” received the prize. The prize is a 6,000-euro scholarship and a trophy created by glass designer Mare Saare. In previous years, the award has been received by composers Liisa Hirsch, Toivo Tulev, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Helena Tulve, Märt-Matis Lill, and Rasmus Puur.
“The LHV New Composition Award Au-tasu is an extraordinary and forward-thinking initiative in the Estonian musical landscape. On our weighing table are the creations born today from current fresh ideas. Music is known to be Estonia’s business card in the world, ”says the chairwoman of the 2021 jury Tiia Teder.
LHV’s continuous contribution to Estonian contemporary music is of considerable importance and gives recognition to the entire field of contemporary music. The cooperation between LHV and the Estonian Music Days began in 2016.
According to LHV’s head of marketing Margit Kotkas, Estonian composers have shown that they deserve more prominence. “It is always gratifying to see so many composers with such a variety of works nominated for the LHV New Composition Award Au-tasu. Estonian composer’s music exports our culture into the wider world, so contemporary music definitely makes Estonia bigger,” commented Kotkas.
Works written by Estonian composers premiered in 2021 qualify for the LHV New Composition Award Au-tasu 2022. Candidates can be nominated by groups, organizations, and individuals, regardless of the country of residence. The submission is open until March 7 on the Estonian Music Days website.
The winner will be announced on April 22 at the concert of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra in the Estonia Concert Hall. The festival Estonian Music Days will bring the audience more than 20 world premieres. It will take place in a hybrid format from 16 to 24 April 2022 in Tallinn, Tartu, and Laulasmaa. The artistic directors of Estonian Music Days are Helena Tulve and Timo Steiner. The curator of the Tartu programme is Märt-Matis Lill. The theme of this year’s festival is “Upside Down”.
The LHV New Composition Award Au-tasu is organized by the Estonian Composers’ Union. The competition partners are the Estonian Music Information Center, Klassikaraadio, and Estonian Public Broadcasting.
Additional information and competition conditions
Estonian Music Information Center list of 2021 world premieres
Additional info:
Iti Teder
Estonian Music Days
LHV New Music Award Au-tasu 2022 coordinator
iti@helilooja.ee
Tel +372 5466 7689