Violinist MAANO MÄNNI (1966) has graduated from the Tallinn Conservatoire
under the guidance of Prof. Jüri Gerretz (1992). He has been the concertmaster
of the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra (1993-1996), and the first concertmaster
of the Estonian State Symphony Orchestra during 1993-2000. M.Männi is known
as a solo artist and a chamber musician. He has performed under the conduction
of most Estonian and guest conductors. Concert tours have taken Maano Männi
to most European countries, the USA and Canada. Maano Männi is the founder
of the Tobias Quartet (2000) and the priimas and artistic director of the
era -true Strauss-Orchestra, founded in 2002. Since the year 2002, he has
been the concertmaster of the Vaasa City Orchestra; during the season of 2004/2005
he has been the guest concert-master of the orchestra of the Estonian National
Opera “Estonia”.
Violinist KRISTJAN HALLIK (1983) has graduated from the Tallinn Music
Secondary School (teacher Niina Murdvee) and is currently studying at the
Estonian Academy of Music (under Mari Tampere-Bezrodny’s guidance). He has
performed in numerous master classes. K. Hallik has been awarded the second
prize at the Estonian Competition of Young String Instrument Players (2001)
and the third prize an the special prize of the Tallinn String Quartet at
the Competition of the Estonian Young Violinists and Cellists (2003). He has
played as a soloist in front of the Symphony Orchestra of the Tallinn Music
Secondary School, the Estonian Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Haapsalu Chamber
Orchestra. At the moment, Kristjan Hallik he is playing in the Symphony Orchestra
of the Estonian Academy of Music, being often its concertmaster. He has been
a member of the Tobias String Quartet since 2004.
Viola player TOOMAS NESTOR (1959) graduated from the Tallinn Conservatoire
in the violin class of Prof. Endel Lippus in 1984. He works as a teacher in
the Tallinn Music Secondary School and the Estonian Academy of Music and is
the leader of the second violin group of the Symphony Orchestra of the Estonian
National Opera. Since 1984, Toomas Nestor has been playing in the Tallinn
String Quarter and since 2003 he has been playing in the Tobias String Quartet.
AARE TAMMESALU (1960) studied the cello at the Tallinn State Conservatoire
(with Prof.Toomas Velmet) and completed his Master’s study under Prof. Peeter
Paemurru’s guidance. In 1987 he won the second prize at the Competition of
Estonian String Instrument Players. He has performed as a soloist in front
of different Estonian symphony orchestras and the Kotka City Orchestra (Finland);
he has given solo concerts in Estonia and the Scandinavian countries. Aare
Tammesalu is also appreciated as a music producer.
