On the evening of Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, the fifth edition of the Estonian Music Week festival commenced with a stylish, cosmopolitan Launch Party at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto. This event revived a beloved tradition, harkening back to the inaugural festival launches in 2018 and 2019. With a window looking out onto the impressive backdrop of the Royal Ontario Museum, guests were invited to kick off the festival with speeches and a series of short concert sets from Al Qahwa (a Nordic Connect Conference participant), Curly Strings, and Mart Avi.
All within the third floor of the Gardiner, attendees and VIP guests had the opportunity to chat and mingle with artists, community leaders, and influential figures from Canada and Estonia, while enjoying appetizers and an open bar. The evening truly gave everyone a taste of what's to come this year.
Photos by Peeter Põldre
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