The female choir „Emajõe Laulikud“ from Tartu, with its conductor Vilve Maide has been singing together since 2003. In relatively short time period the choir has become one of the leading female choirs in Estonia. This choir of about 60 people can be characterised as full of joy, personality and courage to act differently and seeking innovative pathways. Since 2018 Meelis Kesperi has assisted the conductor.
The repertoire of “Emajõe Laulikud” is in permanent development, containing songs from both Estonian and foreign authors, from arrangements of national songs to opera choirs, from church music to pop-music and, naturally, the evergreens of Estonians female choirs and our Song Festivals.
The choir enjoys both singing together and doing things together. The rehearsals take place every Monday at the Ministry of Education and Research. The choir joins mostly young women, who wish, in addition to making beautiful music together, to be active in social life. To further develop the quality of Estonian singing culture we set for ourselves higher and higher targets like performing difficult musical pieces more professionally and commissioning new original music from contemporary composers. From another side, we also are active in developing and enriching the possibilities of entertaining and innovative music.
Competions and prizes
The choir has been participating in several interesting musical projects: Songs by Kulno Süvalep “My Most Wonderful Years 10” (2003); 50th anniversary concert of Peeter Volokonski “Volkonsky Report” (2004), Tartu Music Days (2009), numerous charity concerts and festive occasions. In 2008 we successfully took part in TV-show “Battle of Songs”.
The year 2009 is remembered by our singers as the Year of Bringing the Fire: together with Tartu Male Choir "Akadeemiline Emajõgi" we brought the Song Festival Fire all the way through Estonia from Tartu to Tallinn, to the XXV Estonian Song Festival.
“Emajõe Laulikud” has been singing at XXIV and XXV Estonian Song Festivals, VI Festival of Nordic Student Choirs, Baltic Students Song and Dance Festival “Gaudeamus” and in many places all over Estonia. In June 2012 we helped to organise the Festival of Nordic and Baltic Male Choirs.
Over the last years we have been privileged to make music under different conductors (Tarmo Leinatamm, Toomas Vavilov, Marge Matson) and be the first to perform new original music from composers Kristo Matson, Peeter Volkonski, Toomas Lunge and Rein Rannap.