Anna-Liisa Eller - kannel, improvisations
Sänni Noormets - talharpa, violin, vocals
Estonian National Male Choir - conductor Mikk Üleoja

The concert is dedicated to the 108th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.

The programme is rooted in the heritage of our ancestors – ancient folk tunes and instrumental melodies that still resonate and ring in the ears and hearts of today’s performers. In a friendly gathering, one will hear spiritual folk songs, Veljo Tormis’s folk song arrangements, original compositions by Sänni Noormets, as well as improvisations created on the spot.

Sänni Noormets is a vibrant Estonian folk musician whose heart beats to the rhythm of the violin and the talharpa – the latter being a true superstar on today’s Estonian folk music scene. Sänni is from Türi and graduated from Türi Music School in violin. In 2014 she completed her studies at the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy. Three years later she earned her master’s degree at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, specialising in composition within the field of traditional music.
Sänni Noormets has performed with the folk music ensembles Midrid, Estbel and Ars Apta, and she is a member of the Estonian Folk Orchestra. She also performs in the live show of DJ Sander Mölder’s album TIKS 017 and teaches violin at the Old Town Educational College. Sänni has composed music for several student films. As a musician, she has collaborated with the travelling theatre Vaba Vanker and worked as composer and musical designer in the NUKU Theatre production Estonian Christmas. In addition, Sänni is one of the leaders of the nationwide talharpa orchestra, helping to keep this ancient heritage fresh and alive.

Anna-Liisa Eller completed her master’s degree cum laude in 2014 at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in the kannel class of Associate Professor Kristi Mühling. In 2013 she continued her studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse de Lyon with professors Yves Rechsteiner and Rolf Lislevand, and in 2013–2014 at the Trossingen University of Music with Rolf Lislevand. From 2016 to 2022 she pursued doctoral studies at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under the supervision of Professor Toomas Siitan and Professor Imbi Tarum.
From 2010 to 2022, Anna-Liisa taught kannel at the Georg Ots Tallinn Music School, and she currently works at MUBA as well as at the Tallinn Music School since 2016. Her special interest lies in early and contemporary music. She has performed at numerous music festivals across Europe and has collaborated with many Estonian and international ensembles, both as a soloist and ensemble member. Anna-Liisa works actively with ensembles such as Supersonus (whose debut album Resonances was released by ECM in 2019), Hanané, The Bright Future Ensemble, Vox Clamantis, Floridante, Rondellus and others.
Her solo album Strings Attached: The Voice of Kannel (Harmonia Mundi, 2021) was awarded Classical Album of the Year and earned her the annual prize of the Estonian Cultural Endowment’s Sound Art Endowment.