Update # 234
Voices across the water: Song Festival artistic director joins KESKUS donor family
One could easily say that Heli Jürgenson has the love of singing in her heart and soul and, selected as the artistic director for Estonia’s next famed Song Festival (Laulupidu), she will share that love with tens of thousands in Tallinn next summer.
Now, Heli brings a valuable musical connection to the KESKUS donor family by becoming a Kungla Rahvas donor to the project.
“Music and singing is such an integral part of the Estonian identity, and the new KESKUS International Estonian Centre will give us a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the bonds between singers in Estonia and in North America through this shared love of uniting our voices,” Heli said.
“I have developed many close friendships in Toronto,” noted Heli, “starting with Dr. Roman Toi with whom I corresponded for many years before we met first in Estonia and then in Toronto. These friendships I deeply cherish.”
In January 2025, Heli will travel to Toronto, Canada to lead choirs in LaLaLa (Laulupeo LauluLaager), a choral music camp that takes place prior to each Song Festival and attracts over one hundred participants from across North America. It’s the second time she has lent her talent to the event, last time was January 2009 before Laulupidu XXV ÜhesHingamine.
Kati Marley of Toronto, who sings in the mixed choir Ööbik, and who is also a Viru Vanemad donor in support of KESKUS, is delighted that Heli will again be visiting Toronto to inspire local singers and ready North American choirs for Laulupidu.
“We are so pleased and honoured that Heli will be leading the choral music weekend workshop in January,” she said. “To have a musical director of her caliber with us again is truly a gift.”
“Heli joining the KESKUS donor community further reinforces the ties between Estonia and its diaspora,” Kati added. “Heli is a cultural icon, and her commitment and energy inspire others.”
Heli has a personal reason for donating: “KESKUS will be more than just a building. Its existence alone reflects what it means to be Estonian at heart and have pride in our Estonian heritage even when far from Estonia,” she said. “When I look at Estonia when I’m in Toronto, I see my homeland through a different lens. Our patriotic choir songs resonate differently in Toronto than in Estonia. This perspective enriches my life and my work.”
Heli’s musical pedigree is extensive, and covers a range of genres. She has been involved with the Estonian National Opera for over two decades, and is now its choirmaster. Heli was in Toronto in 2008 with the EstoniaMixed Choir, of which she was principal conductor from its founding in 1993 until 2021, the choir’s final year.
From 2011-2020, Heli was the choirmaster of Tallinn Philharmonic Chamber Choir and principal conductor of the Tallinn Chamber Choir since 2019.
The Nordics are famous for spectacular song festivals, and Heli has been at the helm of many of them. Since 2002, she has conducted Estonian Song Festival, Finnish-Estonian Song Festival and Nordic and Baltic Song Festival choirs. She was artistic director of Estonia’s Youth Song Festival “Mina Jään” in 2017.
Heli studied choral conducting at the Georg Ots Tallinn Music School and the Tallinn State Conservatory. She has been a lecturer in choral conducting at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre since 2020.
“I so admire the Toronto Estonian community and am excited to come to Toronto again for the LaLaLa camp and to work with individual choirs that prior week.”
“I am immensely grateful for our continued connections,” she added. “Choral music is the soundtrack to our independence and an expression of our continued freedom. Just like the KESKUS project propels us forward, together we strengthen our cultural legacy and help ensure that it continues to have meaning well into future.”
Estonia’s XXVIII Song and XXI Dance Festival “Iseoma” (kinship) will take place from July 3rd to 6th, 2025. More than 40,000 singers, orchestral musicians, folk dancers, and folk musicians participate in this traditional national event, which draws over 100,000 spectators.
Help get KESKUS across the finish line!
Please join the growing list of KESKUS capital campaign donors to help bring KESKUS to completion. KESKUS leadership donors are recognized here.
There are many ways to make a contribution to KESKUS.
To donate, click here, or call +1.647.250.7136 or email donations@estoniancentre.ca. Donations may be made as a family gift, or in honour of an individual or family. All donations are issued a tax receipt, in Canada via Estonian Arts Centre, US tax receipts via Myriad USA and Estonian tax receipts via Eesti Rahvuskultuuri Fond. Donations by credit card may be made here.
Legacy gifts made to the Estonian Arts Centre, the charity associated with KESKUS, are creative and tax-effective ways to provide support. These are known as “planned gifts” because with thoughtful planning, we create a win-win situation that benefits both you and our community for generations to come. Find out how to provide a bequest in your will by going to www.estoniancentre.ca/bequest.
For information on making other types of planned gifts, including gifts of appreciated securities or insurance policies, or if you have any other questions, please contact EAC Donations Manager Taimi Hooper via email at donations@estoniancentre.ca or phone +1.647.250.7136.
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