The title, Certificate of Honour and medal of Honorary Conductor were presented to Tõnu Kaljuste by the choir representatives during his 60th anniversary celebrations on 4th of September at the Tallinn Blackhead’s Guild Hall.
EPCC Managing Director Esper Linnamägi commented the event: „We appreciate and value the contribution that Tõnu Kaljuste has made on shaping the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – he is the founder of EPCC, a long-time artistic director, a spiritual leader, a constant partner and a kindred spirit of the choir.“
Tõnu Kaljuste established Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in 1981 and was its artistic director for 20 years, during that time EPCC became Estonian representative choir, who are expected at prestigious festivals and concert venues all around the world. Close cooperation has continued to this day – in the coming months EPCC performs with Tõnu Kaljuste at the Usedom Festival in Germany and at the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore.
The author of the medal of Honorary Conductor is a jewellery artist Kärt Summatavet. The front side of the silver medal shows a shaman drum, which symbolizes works performed with the choir. A fairy-virgin with three soul-birds on the back of the medal guide the medal holder behind the Milky Way to the spring of wisdom, where the Honorary Conductor brings messages to people’s hearts and opens doors to soul landscapes of the past, present and future.
Audirigendi medali autor on ehtekunstnik Kärt Summatavet. Hõbedast medali esiküljel on kujutatud šamaanitrumm, mis sümboliseerib koos kooriga lauldud teoseid. Tagaküljel olev haldja-neitsi koos kolme hingelinnuga juhivad medali kandja Linnutee taha tarkuste lättele, kust audirigent toob sõnumeid inimeste südamesse, avab uksed hingemaastikele minevikus, olevikus ja tulevikus.