Erkki-Sven Tüür

Erkki-Sven Tüür (born 16 October 1959) is an Estonian composer. Tüür (Estonian pronunciation: [tyːr]) was born in Kärdla on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. He studied flute and percussion at the Tallinn Music School from 1976 to 1980 and composition with Jaan Rääts at the Tallinn Academy of Music and privately with Lepo Sumera from 1980 to 1984. From 1979 to 1984 he headed the rock group In Spe, which quickly became one of the most popular in Estonia. Tüür left In Spe to concentrate on composition, and with the advent of perestroika soon found an audience in the west. The Helsinki Philharmonic, the Hilliard Ensemble, the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra are among those who have commissioned works from him. He was awarded the Cultural Prize of Estonia in 1991 and 1996 and the Baltic Assembly Prize for Literature, the Arts and Science in 1998. His Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, entitled "Illuminatio", was premiered by violist Lars Anders Tomter and South Jutland Symphony Orchestra in October 2008.