Elmo Tiisvald

Elmo Tiisvald (born 13 June 1967) is an Estonian conductor born in Tallinn. He started his music studies at the Tallinn Music High School in the violin class of Tiiu Peäske and continued his studies, violin with Lemmo Erendi and choral conducting with Enn Oja, at the Tallinn Georg Ots Music School.

He has been involved at the Estonian Boys Choir for many years as a choir singer and soloist. From 1977 to 1979 he sang the title role of Britten's The Little Sweep at the Estonian National Opera.

Tiisvald has graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music both as a choral conductor (class of Prof. Ants Üleoja) in 1993, and orchestra conductor (class of Prof. Paul Mägi and Prof. Roman Matsov) in 2003. Elmo Tiisvald has attended master courses with John Eliot Gardiner and Helmuth Rilling at the Stuttgart Bach Academy and participated in several masterclasses with Jorma Panula, Neeme Järvi and Sylvain Cambreling.

In 1992–1995, Tiisvald worked as a singer, chorus master and conductor of Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and a lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Music. Tiisvald has conducted operas, ballets and musicals at the Estonian NO and at numerous music festivals in Estonia, Russia and Germany. Tiisvald has worked with the Estonian National SO, Pärnu City Orchestra, Tallinn Baroque Orchestra, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Mixed Choir of Estonian Radio, Estonian National Male Choir, Oratorio Choir and the Opera Choir of the Estonian National Opera.

He has worked for the second time from 2013 to 2021, chief chorus master of Estonian NO, while continuing to work as a lecturer in the faculty of conducting and the artistic director and conductor of Opera Studio at Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. In 2014, Elmo Tiisvald was nominated as candidate for the Conductor of the Year Music Award.

Currently, Elmo Tiisvald works as a lecturer in the conducting department and opera studio of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. In addition, Elmo Tiisvald contributes to the training of young musicians in music theory, jazz theory and music technology at the orchestra Nissi Trollid Music School. From 2021, he teaches orchestration and arranging in Helsinki. Since 2023, he has also been a music history and music theory lecturer at three leading music schools in Estonia. Elmo Tiisvald he founded Nissi Church Music Festival in 2021 and he is its artistic director today.

Recordings

Enchanted operetta - Margit Saulep & Urmas Põldma - Pärnu City Orchestra, CD - conductor

Olav Ehala: musical Arabella Birgitta Festival, Estonian Youth Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Concert Choir, Maria Soomets (Arabella), Hannes Kaljujärv (Taaniel Tina), Rain Simul (Hasso), Andero Ermel (Halleluuja), Veiko Tubin (Adalbert), Priit Volmer (Raudpats), Tatjana Mihhailova (Rosita), Mart Toome (Haak), Priit Kruusement (Meremõrtsukas), Mart Toome (Martsipan), Olari Viikholm (Suur Aadam), Aare Kodasmaa (Väike Aadam), Mati Vaikmaa (Puujalg), CD - conductor

Voices of the Estonian National Opera, CD – chorusmaster Erkki-Sven Tüür: opera Wallenberg, DVD – chorusmaster Cyrillus Kreek: Requiem, CD – chorusmaster Henry Purcell: Ode for St. Cecilias Day “Welcome to all the pleasures” Tallinn Baroque Orchestra and Concert Choir, CD - conductor Henry Purcell: opera Dido and Aeneas, CD – conductor The King Arthur's Opera Gala, DVD – chorusmaster Tauno Pylkkänen: opera Mare and her Son, CD – chorusmaster Rudolf Tobias: oratorio Jonah's Mission, 300 Years of St. Peterburg, DVD – chorusmaster Olav Ehala: family musical Bumpy, DVD – conductor A. S. Dargomõžski (ru): opera Mermaid, VHS – chorusmaster Eino Tamberg: opera Cyrano de Bergeraque, CD, VHS – assistant conductor Verdi: opera Nabucco, DVD, CD – chorusmaster Rauno Remme: Voices, Cor mundum, CD – conductor Mari Vihmand: Chamber Music Album, Estonian National Broadcasting – conductor