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Olav Roots

1910 – 1974

Estonian musician

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About Olav Roots

Lived 1910 – 1974 (aged 63). Olav Roots was an Estonian, Russian and Swedish conductor, pianist, composer and musician.

Olav Roots (26 February 1910 – 30 January 1974) was an Estonian conductor, pianist and composer.

Biography Roots was born in Uderna. He studied at the Music School of Tartu from 1923 to 1928, studying piano with Artur Lemba and composition under Heino Eller with musicians such as Eduard Tubin, Eduard Oja, Alfred Karindi and Karl Leichter. He then studied at the Estonian Music Academy in Tallinn, where he subsequently taught piano and music theory until 1935. In addition, he completed his piano studies with Alfred Cortot in Paris. In 1942 he studied with Clemens Krauss in Salzburg.

In 1944, Roots moved to Sigtuna in Sweden. He taught there at the Estonian School and directed the Stockholm Joint Youth Choir. In November 1952 he became conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia in Bogotá, Colombia, His Symphony dedicated to the Colombia Symphony Orchestra was first performed under his direction 10 November 1967, and he was made an Honorary citizen of Colombia the same year.

He died in Bogotá.

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Important facts

Birth century
Education
Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre

People in Olav Roots's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Olav Roots's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Olav Roots?

Estonian musician (1910–1974)

When was Olav Roots born?

Olav Roots was born on 28 October 1910 in Tartu County.

When did Olav Roots die?

Olav Roots died on 30 January 1974 in Bogotá.

What was Olav Roots's occupation?

Olav Roots was a conductor, pianist, composer and musician.

What nationality was Olav Roots?

Olav Roots was Estonian, Russian and Swedish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Olav Roots

· Wikidata: Q2018198

· DBpedia: Olav Roots

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Olav Roots. https://biography.guide/olav-roots/

MLA: "Olav Roots." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/olav-roots/.

Chicago: "Olav Roots." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/olav-roots/.

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