Jury

SIRJE MEDELL

Member of the Jury

Sirje Medell is a vocal teacher, vocal therapist, singer. He works as a singing lecturer in the stage art department of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater, and also cooperates with the jazz music department. At MUBA, Sirje works as a rhythm music voice instrument and rhythm music teacher.
At Tallinn Open School, he works as a music teacher, conductor of the children's and toddler choir.
Has conducted master courses in Estonia and abroad. Sings in the modern improvisational music ensemble Viiip3.

PRIIT PAJUSAAR

Member of the Jury

Una Stade is a head of Musical Theatre departments of Riga Cathedral Choir School and Jazeps Vitols Latvian Music Academy. She is a founder and a conductor of RDKS Gospel Choir that has won several international competitions. Una sings in a professional a cappella band "Latvian Voices”. Una Stade has graduated from Riga Cathedral Choir School and Graz Art and Dramatic Arts University as a jazz singer and has recieved masters degree from JVLMA. She has also recieved medical education in Riga’s Stradina University in a musical therapy preparatory corse.

NOVELLA HANSON

Member of the Jury

Meelis Kesperi is a conductor and singer. He graduated from Heino Eller Choir conducting at the School of Music and conducting at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater major, studied pop/jazz piano at the Georg Otsa School of Music and is currently majoring in pop/jazz singing at the Tallinn School of Music and Ballet. He has done as a background singer with various artists (Rita Ray, Anett, JĂĽri Pootsmann, Eleryn Tiit, Robert Linna et al.). Meelis also made it to the 9th season of Estonia is looking for a superstar Among the 10 finalists. Every day, Meelis works with different choirs and improves himself regularly in the field of vocal pedagogy.

Ivi Rausi is a jazz-singer, improviser, songwriter, arranger, music teacher and vocal coach. She has graduated Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre for three times (music teaching, traditional music, and contemporary improvisation). She has also taken part in different jazz and free impro master classes all over the Europe.

Muusikuna meeldib Ivi Rausile katsetada ja mõelda ?kastist välja?. Ta usub, et on oluline otsida oma ?sinilindu? ja julgeda olla ?mina ise?, sest iga hääl siin maailmas on ainulaadne ja kordumatu.

She has published six musical albums.

More information:

www.ivirausi.com

Spotify

Facebook: Ivi Rausi Music

YouTube

Jere Laukkanen works as Senior Lecturer at the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Department of Music, teaching composition, arranging, ear-training, music theory, songwriting, and orchestras/ensembles. He was the Head of the Music Department in 2008-2016 and is now the Lecturer in Charge of the Music Writing and Production Major.

Laukkanen is a much sought-after arranger, composer and conductor, and has written for all major Finnish television channels and numerous orchestras, including European Jazz Orchestra, UMO Jazz Orchestra, Vantaa Pops Orchestra, and Lahti Symphony Orchestra. Besides his own band, Jere Laukkanen Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, for which he is the sole composer and arranger, he has conducted jazz orchestras like the European Jazz Orchestra (multinational), UMO Jazz Orchestra (Finland), Berklee Jazz Composers’ Big Band (USA), Radio Romania Big Band, Big Band Conservatori del Liceu (Spain), and Estonian Dream Big Band, to name a few.