Andres Kaljuste

Estonian Andres Kaljuste was originally a violinist. When he was in his twenties, he fell in love with the viola and the affair has flourished ever since. After studying in Sweden and Germany, Andres worked in the UK as a violinist and a violist i.e., in Philharmonia Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Kaljuste has been a visitor concert master at the Oulu City Orchestra before his move to Helsinki, where he studied conducting with Atso Almila and Hannu Lintu. During his studies, he also played as a viola section leader in the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra for three seasons. Andres Kaljuste has performed with and conducted many orchestras in the Nordic Countries. He has conducted Helsinki Philharmonic, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Ostrobothnia Chamber Orchestra and Pori Sinfonietta. During this season he has conducted Estonia’s National Orchestra, Pärnu City Orchestra and Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra (UK). On top of these jobs, Kaljuste is going to premier a piece for solo viola and piano. The piece is composed by a young, promising Estonian composer called Rasmus Puur. His piece is dedicated to Andres Kaljuste and the pianist Sophia Rahman. Kaljuste has recorded chamber music with Sharon Fraber and Eleanor Alberga for Signum Records and Navona Records.