The Chamber Choir of the University of Tartu has the honour of being a representative choir of Estonia at VIII Nordic-Baltic Choral Festival in Latvia. The choir gives its first performance at the festival at an opening concert in the downtown Riga at Vērmanes Dārzs, performing “Jaani Hobu” / “Saint John’s Steed”, a folk song by Veljo Tormis which is the 5th part of a cycle “Jaanilaulud” / “Saint John’s Day Songs”.
The Chamber Choir of the University of Tartu takes part in the 8th Nordic-Baltic Choir Festival in Latvia, giving independent concerts, presentations about Estonian choral music and singing at the closing concert in Mežaparks, Riga, where all Latvian song celebrations are held. The chamber choir also gives a special concerti in Cēsis St John’s Church. The Chamber Choir of the University of Tartu is an Estonian representative choir at the 8th Nordic-Baltic Choir Festival and its conductor Triin Koch is a member of the artistic board of the festival.
Nordic-Baltic song festival tradition was initiated in 1995 by Latvian conductor Imants Kokars, who invited more than 6,000 singers to perform in Riga, Latvia. During the next 20 years the festival has been held in six different Baltic and Scandinavian country, including Tartu, Estonia. Being held in Riga, Latvia for the second time, more than 6,500 singers are expected to take part, along with guest choirs coming from Italy and Luxembourg.
