The fifth festival will be taking place from May 22-25th in the best and most exciting concert venues Toronto has to offer. The pre-festival events will also be taking place in several locales outside of the heart of the city, for example, Scarborough, Hamilton, and Kitchener. Although the festival’s main program will only be taking place in Toronto this time, a special bus will bring music lovers from Hamilton to Toronto and back again later in the evening—thanks to the support of our good friend and leader of the Cotton Factory, Rob Zeidler.
Early-bird festival passes are available as of December 2nd. Until March 1st, these can be purchased at a discounted price, up to 47% cheaper than full price tickets (compared to purchasing full price tickets to each show separately). The pass gives you full access to all ticketed events. What could be a better Christmas gift than one loaded with Estonian culture!
What are we offering? In celebration of our first big anniversary, we’ve brought back Vox Clamantis, favourites from the first festival. Under the direction of Jaan Eik Tulve, they enchanted us with their touching and delicate harmonies, demonstrating their virtuosity through Gregorian chants, and the works of Arvo Pärt and Erkki-Sven Tüür. In spring 2025, they’ll help us celebrate Veljo Tormis’ 95th, Arvo Pärt’s 90th, and Lembit Avesson’s 100th birthdays by performing the multi-faceted works of these renowned composers. At the same concert, Ensemble U, familiar to EMW audiences from 2019, will step up on stage and add Canadian classical music innovator Udo Kasemets to the list of jubilarians, whose 105th birthday was just this past November.
Nearly 400 people participated in the voting and, to no surprise, the audience favourite was Curly Strings. While they have already performed in Toronto, they will be making their Estonian Music Week debut.
A cappella vocal ensemble Estonian Voices is also coming back to Toronto, as their third release has just come out, titled “Kallimale” (To My Dearest). Get ready to hear both their old hits and newest tunes.
For the first time in the history of the festival, we offered the audience a chance to contribute to the festival program. Nearly 400 people participated in the voting and, to no surprise, the audience favourite was Curly Strings. While they have already performed in Toronto, they will be making their Estonian Music Week debut.
For the younger audiences ready to rip up the dance floor, we’re bringing exciting artist Mart Avi, who sings and dances, writes and produces music, and who has already worked with grand old man of Estonian DJ culture, Raul Saaremets.
We’re also bringing back the popular festival opening night party from the first two festivals at the chic Gardiner Museum, where the audience, VIP guests, musicians, and organizers can mix and mingle with delicious appetizers and drinks, all set against the backdrop of the magnificent ROM.
We are already very thankful to our supporters—the Estonian Foundation of Canada, Toronto Arts Council, and the Estonian Embassy in Ottawa—but we’re also looking for new supporters. Should you find Estonian Music Week a worthwhile cause, consider becoming a donor or sponsor.
