Heli Jürgenson

(chief chorus master) 

EDUCATION AND WORK
Heli Jürgenson studied chorus conducting in Tallinn Georg Ots Music School and Tallinn Conservatory. In 1992–2021, she taught conducting in Tallinn Georg Ots Music School and since autumn 2020, she is a teacher of conducting in the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. In 2001–2010, she was the chorus master at the Estonian National Opera, working on both operas and oratorios. In 2011–2020, she was the chorus master of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. She was also the chorus master of the Estonia Society Mixed Choir from its establishment in 1993 until the choir was disbanded in 2021. Since 2019, she is the chef chorus master of the Tallinn Chamber Choir and since autumn 2020, the chief chorus master of the Estonian National Opera.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In 2013, she received the grand prix of Gustav Ernesaks Foundation and the Choral Conductor of the Year title. In 2017, she was the chief conductor and artistic director of the Youth Song Festival “I Stay”, winning the Annual Award of the Estonian Cultural Endowment. In 2019, she was awarded the 4th Class Order of the White Star by Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid.

Works in the Estonian National Opera:
Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov”
Falla’s “La vida breve”
Tchaikovsky’s “The Queen of Spades”
Verdi’s “Aida”
Verdi’s “Rigoletto”
Verdi’s “La traviata”
Verdi’s “Giovanna d’Arco”
Verdi’s Requiem
Wagner’s “Tannhäuser”
Wagner’s “Der fliegende Holländer”
Wagner’s “Lohengrin”
Puccini’s “Tosca”
Rossini’s “La Cenerentola”
Tüür’s “Wallenberg”
Vihmandi’s “The Formula of Love”
Gounod’s “Faust”
Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet”
Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers”
Britten’s “War Requiem”
Rachmaninoff’s  “The Bells”
Elgar’s “The Dream of Gerontius”
Rossini’s “Petite messe solennelle”
Poulenc’s “Stabat Mater”

Works with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir: 
Pärt’s “Lithany”
Pärt’s “In Principio”
Pärt’s “Te Deum” 
Pärt’s “Adam’s Lament”
Bach’s Mass in H minor
Bach’s “St. Matthew’s Passion”
Bach’s “St. John’s Passion”
Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio”
Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis”
Fauré’s Requiem 
Haydn’s “The Seasons”
Haydn’s “Creation”
Poulenc’s “Gloria” 
Brahms’ “Deutsche Requiem”
Mozart’s “Coronation Mass”
Mozart’s Requiem
MacMillan’s “Seven Last Words from the Cross”
Glass’ “Koyaanisqatsi”

Since 2002, she has been a conductor of various song festivals since 2002. She is also the artistic director and conductor of the folk song festival “Iseoma” in 2025.