St. Michael`s Boys`Choir

Estonia

ST. MICHAEL’S BOYS’ CHOIR was founded in 1988 in Tallinn educational centre Collegium Educationis Revaliae with the aim of studying the history and values of liturgical music in European culture in the past as well as in present times. St. Michael’s Boys’ Choir is unique among other Estonian boychoirs, because although it works in a school, not a particular church, its focus lies in historical sacred music: Gregorian chant, early polyphony, and Estonian folk hymns. The choir’s repertoire also includes secular folk songs as well as contemporary choral music. Most of the choristers also study an instrument – some belonging to a small instrumental group, accompanying the choir. St. Michael’s Boys’ Choir has won several prizes at international choir competitions: incl. a gold medal in the Gregorian chant category at the sacred music competition in Olomouc, Czech Republic in 2008; in 2010 1st prize in church music category and a special prize for the best early music programme in Kaposvar, Hungary; in 2013 silver diploma at the international choir competition in Tampere, Finland, in 2016 1st prize and golden diploma in Siauliai, Lithuania. In 2012 the St. Michael’s Boys’ Choir was the first nonprofessional choir from Estonia to be invited to the world-famous Gregorian Chant festival in Watou, Belgium and the choir has repeatedly been invited back. Since 2004 the choir is a member of the worldwide organization of youth and children’s choirs who sing liturgical music, Pueri Cantores. At the end of year 2005 the boys participated in the meeting of Pueri Cantores in Rome and had the opportunity to sing at the Pope’s New Year’s Mass in the Vatican. Since 1995 chief conductor of the choir is Kadri Hunt, assistant conductor since 2013 is Karin Veissmann. Vocal coaching is being done by Jana Perens and Alar Haak.