Mikk Murdvee

(conductor)

Mikk Murdvee is a noteworthy Estonian conductor and violinist. He began his studies in Tallinn Music School with Niina Murdvee and Harald Aasa. In 1998, he entered Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre but already next year he enrolled in Sibelius Academy with Prof. Mari Tampere-Bezrodny. He graduated from the violin class with cum laude in 2005. Parallel to his violin studies he began studying conducting in 2002 with Leif Segerstam, Jorma Panula and Atso Almila and graduated in 2007. He has attended the masterclasses of Paavo, Neeme and Kristjan Järvi, Eri Klas among others. Although he stayed in Finland after his studies, he is closely involved in Estonian cultural life. He has performed as a soloist with Estonian National Symphony Orchesta, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Symphony Orchestra and Sibelius Academy Orchestra. Murdvee has conducted Estonian National Symphony Orchesta, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Pärnu City Orchestra and Haapsalu Festival Orchestra. His work with the Tallinn Music School Orchestra is significant, while he was the orchestra’s chief conductor in 2011–2015. He was the chief conductor of the Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra in 2007–2017 and they went on concert tours to Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland and Estonia, giving successful concerts and recording two CDs. In Finland, Murdvee has also conducted the Helsinki City Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Oulu Symphony Orchestra, Turu Philharmonic Orchestra, Kuopio, Lappeenranta and Seinäjoki City Orchestras and Pori Sinfonietta.

Murdvee won the competition and obtained the post as an assistant to Esa-Pekka Salonen with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In summer 2010 he conducted the world premiere of Ilkka Kuusisto’s opera “Taipaleenjoki” within the Ilmanjoe Musiikkijuhlat Festival. Successful performances were given also in 2011 and 2012.
In cooperation with Toccata Classics he recorded the works of Finnish composer Ernst Mielck with the Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra. 

Murvee has also been a champion of promoting the works of an Estonian composer Mihkel Kerem, who lives in London. He has performed Kerem’s works with several orchestras including Pärnu City Orchestra and recorded his works with Toccata Classics, performing also as a violin soloist. 
Murdvee is a member of the Estonian Festival Orchestra and the Finnish National Opera Orchestra. Since 2011, he is a teacher of conducting at the Sibelius Academy.

 

Photo: Kaupo Kikas