Chamber Music Workshop in Tallinn, Estonia
September 15-22 and 22-29, 2024 - TWO SESSIONS!
Steeped in history, full of vibrant energy and creativity, and overflowing with fairytale charm, Tallinn is a stunning metropolis set beside the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. Its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered to be the best-preserved medieval town in Northern Europe. Within these fortified walls, centuries old buildings with their red tile roofs and hidden courtyards exhibit a unique charm that is hard to resist. Away from Old Town's cobblestone streets, the city has a modern feel with off-beat architecture and redesigned factory zones trending now as cultural hotspots where startups, design galleries, unique boutiques, restaurants and cool cocktail bars can be found. Beginning with the birth of Skype here back in 2005, the area has built up a reputation as the “Silicon Valley of Europe.” From cozy local bistros to upscale fine dining establishments, Tallinn boasts an abundance of excellent restaurants, including many mentioned in the current Michelin Guide. The charm of Estonian cuisine lies in its fusion of traditional flavors with modern twists.
WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES
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DAILY COACHING BY MEMBERS OF OUR SUPERB FACULTY
Our faculty is comprised of outstanding performing artists who combine concert careers as chamber players with a dedication to teaching. They are passionate about sharing their expertise in an encouraging and supportive manner to help you achieve your individual musical goals.
The program includes a MASTERCLASS focusing on topics to improve your skill level and refine your understanding for playing chamber music.
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You'll also have the opportunity to schedule private lessons
with our faculty members! |
Viru Gate - entrance to Old Town
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WALKING TOUR OF MEDIEVAL OLD TOWN
A delightful 2.5-hour walking tour along the romantic cobblestone streets of the Old Town, with its charming red roofs and medieval towers. You'll learn about the the history of Estonia and Tallinn, with visits to the most interesting and significant sites of Lower and Upper Old Town, each with their own story to tell: the fortified medieval Town Wall with its many towers, the impressive 600-year-old Gothic Town Hall, the Town Hall Square, and Town Council Pharmacy, Then on to the Upper Town, known as Toompea, with the elaborately decorated Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Houses of Estonian Parliament, and the Dome Church, one of the oldest churches in Estonia. Plus, magnificent panoramic views over the Lower Town and the rest of the city of Tallinn. We’ll finish with lunch in the Old Town - a Medieval feast at Olde Hansa restaurant! |
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PRIVATE CURLING GAME
Test your skill and balance on ice while guiding your granite stone to the elusive target during a private curling game! A great way to spend the afternoon for those of you looking for a new challenge (played on ice!) as you try to beat the opposing team. We’ll have a 1- hour lesson by a professional curling instructor, then a 50-minute curling match. Be careful – many have lost their hearts to the game and it has become a new hobby for life! |
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MEDIEVAL BEER TASTING AND LEGENDS TOUR
Beer was one of the most common drinks in medieval times and in honor of this old tradition, you’ll have the opportunity to sample beer in a distinctly medieval way at the residence of a prosperous merchant. The tour then continues to a more modern pub with a sampling of beers to taste and some lovely snacks. Sip by sip you will come to understand why beer was considered a truly holy drink by locals! |
Kadriorg Palace
St. Bridget's Convent and Pirita Seaside in distance
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KADRIORG PALACE AND PARK + PIRITA SEASIDE TOUR
Built in 1718 by Peter the Great as a summer residence for his wife Catherine I, Kadriorg Park is the most spectacular Baroque park in Estonia. The majestic grounds feature elements of Baroque Italian, French, and Dutch parks and showcase beautiful rose gardens and a swan pond. The Japanese garden highlights the natural landscape and is focused on the circle of life and the expressiveness of nature, with the stones and water being as important as the plants. Also located in the park is the architecturally stunning KUMU Art Museum. You may have heard that Estonia is a singing nation and since 1869 massive song festivals have been held to echo the spirit of this nation. We will make a stop at the specially constructed Song Festival Grounds where mass choirs of over 25,000 singing voices have sung in the past and will continue to do so for generations to come. The tour continues with a drive along the beautiful Pirita seaside. Then, on to the Olympic Yacht Center, built to host the 1980 Olympic sailing events, the popular Pirita beach, and the romantic ruins of St. Bridget’s Convent. |
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BOHEMIAN KALAMAJA and SEAPLANE HARBOR MUSEUM
Visit the Seaplane Harbor Museum, with its concrete dome hangars that are architecturally unique in the world and tour the legendary submarine Lembitu, which made its maiden voyage almost 75 years ago. Then, an opportunity to enjoy the Bomenian charm of Kalamaja, an early 20th-century workers residential area, with its colorful wooden houses. And finally to the old Telliskivi factory area, a present-day Mecca of alternative designer’s shops and lovely cafés, where local food is honored and being different is a standard. A delicious coffee break in a distinctively bohemian setting is the ideal way to stretch your legs and end the tour. Charming local design & handicraft boutiques are there to offer you an excellent shopping opportunity in shops where everything is unique and one-of-a-kind! |
Traditional Wooden Houses in Kalamaja
Telliskivi Creative City
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PLUS -- YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP FOR OPTIONAL TOURS OF TALLINN & SURROUNDING AREA BEFORE AND/OR AFTER YOUR WORKSHOP WEEK!
We've organized a series of exciting tours to help you get to know Tallinn and the surrounding region through authentic, local experiences in small groups of 10-15 people. The cost of these tours is not included in your workshop registration fee. There is an additional fee for each tour.
We've organized a series of exciting tours to help you get to know Tallinn and the surrounding region through authentic, local experiences in small groups of 10-15 people. The cost of these tours is not included in your workshop registration fee. There is an additional fee for each tour.
Helsinki, Finland
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Full-Day Excursion to Helsinki, Finland
Only a short ferry ride from Tallinn across the sea, Helsinki is an elegant Nordic city with stunningly beautiful architecture and a laid-back atmosphere. From the times of Swedish rule to the Russian Czarist Empire, the nation has a very interesting history. Visit the elegant Lutheran Cathedral in Senate Square and the very unusual Church built into the rock -- the best way to explore and discover Helsinki is on foot with our private local guide. |
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Lahemaa National Park and Country Manors Tour with Bog Walk!
Stunningly beautiful coastline, fields and woodlands, plus grand manor estates and small charming coastal villages. The fresh country air and the picturesque scenery of this diverse region make for an unforgettable day trip out of the busy city. Experience the peaceful nature of Lahemaa National Park, go on a bog walk, and visit the Jägala waterfall for a captivating full-day spent in unspoiled nature and surrounded by rural charm. This tour offers the opportunity to visit historic Estonian manor houses and admire the beautiful coastline, which includes stops at the coastal fishing villages of Altja and Käsmu. |
Jägala Waterfall
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Kuressaare Castle, Saaremaa Island
Saaremaa Island - Windmills
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Day Trip to Muhu and Saaremaa Islands
Endless juniper fields, rustic windmills, historic castles, thatched roof houses and the largest meteorite crater in Europe provide an experience which cannot be found elsewhere! The journey to the islands of Muhu and Saaremaa will take you through the classic landscapes of Western Estonia with plenty of time to get to know key facts and stories about this land. We start with a short trip by ferry across the strait where you can enjoy the waves, salty winds, and call of the seagulls. We’ll visit Windmill Park in Angla – a place where heritage culture is held in honor and five romantic windmills allow you to take a peek back in time, when the forefathers of Estonians were grinding flour for their daily bread. As Saaremaa is famous for its local craftsmen, you can find interesting traditional artisan crafts made of dolomite and juniper and also purchase local food items |
GUEST & SPOUSE TOURS
While musician participants are engaged in chamber music coaching sessions, non-playing guests and spouses may take advantage of informally organized activities and tours to explore and discover the history and culture of Tallinn. These tours and activities are included in the Guest/Spouse registration fee.
Tallinn City Center
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Architecture Tour
This tour will take us to see the most interesting architectural landmarks in the center of Tallinn. We’ll look into how industrial heritage areas have been transformed into contemporary urban space, see how new and old mix on the edges of Tallinn’s historical Old Town, and view one of the most interesting new synagogue buildings in Europe. We’ll cover a lot of ground in the city and will have the benefit of traveling by private minibus. |
Claret at the Old Town Pharmacy
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Health and Medicine in Medieval Tallinn
Dating back to 1422, the Town Hall Pharmacy is the oldest pharmacy in Europe that has continuously been in business in the same spot. Aside from providing town citizens with relief from their health woes, the pharmacy was also a place of joy and merriment. Learn the secrets behind claret and marzipan, which are two of the most famous remedies sold at the pharmacy in medieval times. While the list of available items included snakeskin potion, mummy juice and powdered unicorn horn, the pharmacy was also a place to buy everyday items like jam, tea, claret, and gunpowder. The historic site still operates as a pharmacy today, selling modern products, but its side room houses an interesting display of 17th- to 20th-century medicinal items. |
KUMU Art Museum, Kadroirg Park
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KUMU Art Museum
KUMU (the name is short for kunstimuuseum, or art museum) houses Estonian art from the beginning of the 18th century to the present, and the temporary exhibitions also include international and contemporary art. The futuristic, seven-story building, designed by the Finnish architect Pekka Vapaavuori, is a spectacular structure of limestone, glass, and copper that integrates seamlessly into the landscape. |
Liviko Distillery, Tallinn
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Gin Distillery Factory Tour and Tasting
This tour provides an insider’s view of a 124-year-old gin factory, where recipes have been passed down from one generation of master distillers to the next. The tour covers all of the different stages of production – distillation, filtration, mixing and bottling. You can see and smell how the infusions and aromatic spirits are made. The interactive museum is a place where the past meets the future, where you can explore your hidden gin-DJ skills or test your ability to identify botanicals by scent. The tour ends with (of course) a tasting! |