Albu International Piano Camp 2024
18–23 July, Albu Manor, Järva County, Estonia
Albu Manor, situated in Järva County, Estonia, is one of the oldest manors in the country.
The name of this manor was first mentioned by historians in 1282, and its buildings have been used by a school since 1921. Surrounded by a beautiful park, Albu Manor consists of one main historic house, which has been largely restored, in addition to a couple newer buildings within the same park area. It is an idyllic place in the middle of nature.
The tradition of organizing summer music camps at the Albu Manor began initially twelve years ago. Out of the original, smaller music camps, an idea emerged in 2022 to create the Albu International Piano Camp, with the internationally known pianist couple, Hui-Ying Liu-Tawaststjerna and Erik T. Tawaststjerna (Sibelius Academy/University of the Arts Helsinki) as its teachers. This summer our international music camp will take place for the third time on July 18–23, 2024.
This music camp aims to bring together talented pianists from Estonia and abroad to meet with each other, and to study, perform, and explore the art of piano playing and musical interpretation under professional guidance. Lessons in chamber music (duos and trios) are also offered to interested students.
Concert opportunities will be available to participants not only at the Albu Manor, but also at the “Mõisamängud” festival on July 20 and 21, organized by other manors of Estonia. As a novel feature of this international music camp, students may also apply to teach as assistant teachers in the Young Piano Students course at the beginning of the festival.
Dear pianists, we warmly invite you to join us and spend an exciting and inspiring week at the Albu International Piano Camp this summer!
Schedule
All the events will take place in the Albu Manor, if not otherwise noted:
18–23.07. Hui-Ying and Erik Tawaststjerna’s master classes
18.07. at 12 PM Opening of Young Piano Students’ course (19.–20.07. start of lessons daily from 10 AM)
18.07. at 3 PM Opening of Albu international Piano Camp, tour of the manor
18.07. at 4 PM Start of masterclasses (19.–23.07. start of the masterclasses daily from 10 AM)
18.07. at 6 PM Performance of Hui-Ying Liu-Tawaststjerna and Erik T. Tawaststjerna
19.07 at 8 PM Campfire night, party and sauna at Simisalu Nature House
20.07. at 12 PM Concert in collaboration with the festival “Mõisamängud” in Aruküla manor (in Koeru, 38 km from Albu)
20.07. at 7 PM Concert of International Albu Piano Camp participants and Young Piano Students
21.07. at 12 PM Concert in collaboration with the festival “Mõisamängud” in Ravila manor (in Kose, 38 km from Albu)
21.07. at 15 Concert in collaboration with the festival “Mõisamängud” in Lasila manor, 44 km from Albu)
22. 07. at 7 PM Concert of International Albu Piano Camp participants
23.07. at 3 PM Final Concert of International Albu Piano Camp participants
Albu International Piano Camp Instructors (18-23.07):
Erik T. Tawaststjerna (“Ta-va-sher-na”) is Professor Emeritus at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki. He began his musical education in Helsinki and then continued his studies in Moscow, Vienna, and New York. He participated in master classes given by Wilhelm Kempff and Dmitri Bashkirov. He won the second prize at the Helsinki Maj Lind National Piano Competition in 1968 and has since given concerts around the world. He has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras in Finland, performing such works as Rachmaninoff’s Concerto no. 3 and Leonard Bernstein’s Age of Anxiety. Mr. Tawaststjerna has made numerous recordings, among them the four Ballades of Chopin and a series of 8 recordings of the complete piano music of Jean Sibelius. Many of his students have received top prizes in international piano competitions. Mr. Tawaststjerna has been on the juries of several competitions, such as the Van Cliburn Competition in Fort Worth, the Maria Canals Competition in Barcelona, the International Beethoven Competition in Vienna, and the London International Piano Competition. He has given master classes, among other places, at the Guildhall School of Music in London, the University of the Arts in Berlin, and the Tokyo College of Music. In 2006 he was named ‘Professor of the Year’ by the Finnish Professors’ League.
Taiwan-born Hui-Ying Liu-Tawaststjerna is a well-known classical pianist and teacher in Finland, where she has made her permanent home since the early 1980’s. Praised for her refined pianism, interpretation and artistic temperament, she has given concerts throughout Finland, and in many other corners of the world. She won her first piano competition at age 14 in Taipei; other success followed afterwards in Buenos Aires and New York City, including a recital debut at the Carnegie Recital Hall as a winner of the Artists International Management Auditions. She has performed concertos conducted by Okko Kamu, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Eri Klas, among others; as well as chamber music with Jean-Jacque Kantorow, Patrick Gallois, Steven Isserlis, Kaija Saarikettu, Marko Ylönen, and Raimo Sariola. For the Finlandia Records and for the Finnish Radio, she has recorded the complete Sibelius works for cello and piano, Sibelius’ late violin works, and Debussy’s complete Etudes, along with many other piano compositions.
A passionate teacher and educator, she has taught many prize winners of international piano competitions, co-authored a popular Finnish piano method, the Piano Key (“Piano Avain”), and appeared with her students on a Finnish television program “Polishing of Diamonds” as well. In addition, she has given lectures and masterclasses at numerous music universities around the world, including the Guildhall School of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music, the Hanns Eisler Music University, the Music University Freiburg, the Taipei National University of the Arts, the National Taipei University of Education, and NYU Steinhardt at New York University.
Hui-Ying holds a Doctor’s degree from the Sibelius Academy, a Master’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor’s degree from the New York University. During her college years she studied piano with Martin Canin, Konrad Wolff, and Pierre Sancan. She had also received artistic advices from Leon Fleisher, Karl Ülrich Schnabel, and Rosa Sabater, who all imparted much creative inspiration upon Hui-Ying.
Accommodations (based on registrastion):
Jäägri Villa (36 €/night if at least two nights, higher prices for single room and single night)
Simisalu Nature House (only 18-20.07, 20 €/night, shared rooms: 2-7 persons per room, camping style)
Albu Noortekeskus (10 €/night, shared rooms, required to bring own sleeping bags and mattresses)
Meals (based on registration)
Every day breakfast (6 € if not included with accommodation in Jäägri Villa) at 9 AM, lunch at 2PM (10.50 €), dinner 18.07 at 7.30 PM, 20.07 8PM; 21.07 7.30PM; 22.07 8PM (10.50 €) in Jäägri Villa (except on 19.07 dinner at 8PM in Simisalu)
Masterclasses, lessons:
– Participants in the Albu International Piano Camp (18.-23.07) will each receive 4 masterclasses and 1 group lesson (special arrangements with chamber groups).
– Young piano students (18-20.07) will each receive 3 lessons given by elder participants of the Albu International Piano Camp and ensemble and folk music workshops according to the registration.
Piano practice:
There are 9 grand pianos and 5 uprights available for practice at Albu manor, Albu Rahvamaja and Albu Noortekeskus.
Participation fees:
– For participants of the Albu International Piano Camp (18.-23.07): 300 € (not including accommodation and meals), 4 individual lessons and 1 group lesson. Discount available for participants who teach at the Junior Camp.
– For participants of the Junior Camp for Young Pianists (18.-20.07): 80 € (not including accommodation and meals), 3 lessons, folk music workshops, ensemble workshops
Registration
Deadline: 24.6.2024
To participate in Albu International Piano Camp, please fill out the Albu-registration-form-2024 and send it to: kammermuusikud@gmail.com
More information: +372 55913910
Transportation:
– If coming to Albu by car: look up “Albu manor” in google maps
– If arriving in Tallinn by plane: go from the train station “Ülemiste” (850 m from airport) to “Aegviidu”. Tickets (3-4 €) can be purchased on the train with a bank card.
– If arriving in Tallinn by boat: go from the train stop “Tallinn” (in the main railway station “Balti Jaam”, 2 km from the harbour) to “Aegviidu”. Tickets (3-4 €) can be purchased on the train by bank card
– If coming to Albu by train: the trains leave every hour, all day long until late night. Go to web page and look up the timetable and the right train (on the timetable there is written the number and final destination of the train): https://elron.ee/en
NOTE: We can pick you up by car from from Aegviidu, which is ca 20 km away from Albu. We can also try to arrange a car from Tallinn if you give us your arrival details.
Leisure / local attractions:
Anton Hansen Tammsaare muuseum Vargamäel
Kakerdaja raba matkarada
Albu manor