Albu International Piano Camp 2023
23–28 July, Albu Manor, Järva County, Estonia
Albu Manor, situated in Järva County, Estonia, is one of the oldest manors in the country. It was first mentioned in 1282, and it has been used by a school since 1921. The tradition of organizing summer music camps in its historic buildings, partly rebuilt and surrounded by a beautiful park, began already eleven years ago. Out of these smaller music camps emerged the idea 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 second time on July 23–28.
This festival aims to bring together high-level pianists from Estonia and abroad, to study, perform, and explore the art of piano playing and musical interpretation. Interested students may also request lessons in chamber music (duos and trios). In addition to concerts at the Albu Manor, participants will be given opportunities to perform in the “Mõisamängud” festival on July 29th and 30th, organized by other manors of Estonia. As a novel feature of this international music camp, students may apply to teach as assistant teachers in the Young Piano Students course at the beginning of the festival.
Register now (deadline 7.07.2023) – Albu-registration-form-2023
We look forward to welcoming you in person in July!
Schedule
All the events will take place in the Albu Manor, if not otherwise noted:
23–28.07. Hui-Ying and Erik Tawaststjerna’s master classes
23.07. at 3 PM Opening of Albu international Piano Camp, tour of the manor
23.07. at 4 PM Start of masterclasses (24.–28.07: start of the masterclasses daily from 10AM)
23.07. at 6 PM: Performance of Hui-Ying Tawaststjerna and Erik T. Tawaststjerna
24.07. at 11 AM Opening of Young Piano Students’ course (25.–26.07 start of lessons daily from 11 AM)
24.07. at 6 PM Concert of International Albu Piano Camp participants
25.07. at 6 PM Concert of International Albu Piano Camp participants
25.07. at 8 PM Campfire night, party and sauna at Simisalu Nature House
26.07. at 6 PM Concert of International Albu Piano Camp participants and young piano students
28.07. at 3 PM Final Concert of International Albu Piano Camp participants
29.–30.07. Concerts of Albu Piano Camp participants at other Estonian manors, in collaboration with the festival “Mõisamängud”
Albu International Piano Camp Instructors (23-28.07):
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. Praised for her refined pianism, temperament and good taste, she has given numerous concerts in Asia, Europe, North and South America. Her Carnegie Hall debut took place as a winner of the Artist’s International Management’s auditions. As a soloist, she has performed under the baton of Okko Kamu, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Eri Klas; and she has collaborated with esteemed colleagues such as violinists Jean-Jacque Kantorow, Kaija Saarikettu; flutist Patrick Gallois; cellists Steven Isserlis, Marko Ylönen, and Raimo Sariola. She has also made solo and chamber music recordings for the Finlandia Records and for the Finnish Radio, with works such as the complete Sibelius works for cello and piano, Sibelius’ violin works, Debussy’s complete Etudes, etc.
A passionate teacher and educator, she has taught many prize winners of international piano competitions, and she has co-authored a popular Finnish piano method, the Piano Key (“Piano Avain”). She had also appeared as a master teacher on a Finnish television program “Polishing of Diamonds”. In addition, she has given lectures and masterclasses around the world, most notably, at the Guildhall School of Music in London, the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, the Hanns Eisler Music University in Berlin, the Music University Freiburg, the Taipei National University of the Arts, the National Taipei University of Education, and NYU Steinhardt (New York University), to name only a few. Hui-Ying holds a Doctor of Music degree from the Sibelius Academy, a Master of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University. Her piano teachers have included Martin Canin, Konrad Wolff, and Pierre Sancan. She had also received advice and coaching from Leon Fleisher, Karl Ülrich Schnabel, and Rosa Sabater, who all imparted much artistic influence and inspiration on Hui-Ying.
Accommodations (based on registrastion):
Jäägri Villa (23.-28.07, 35 eur/night, breakfast included, shared rooms, single room at additional cost)
Simisalu Nature House (24.-26.07, 20 eur/night, shared rooms)
Albu Noortekeskus (23.-28.07, 10 eur/night, shared room, required to bring own sleeping bags and mattresses)
Meals (based on registration):
Every day breakfast at 9 AM (5 eur, if not accommodated in Jäägri Villa), lunch at 2PM (10 eur), dinner at 7.30 PM (10 eur) (except on 25.07 dinner at 8PM in Simisalu) in Jäägri Villa.
Masterclasses, lessons:
– Participants in the Albu International Piano Camp (23.-28.07) will each receive 4 masterclasses and 1 group lesson (special arrangements with chamber groups).
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 (23-28.07): 300 Euros (not including accommodation and meals). Discount available for participants who teach at the Young Piano Students course.
Payment information: Invoice will be sent to all accepted participants after the registration has been completed.
Registration
Deadline: 7.07.2023
To participate in Albu International Piano Camp, please fill out the Albu-registration-form-2023 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 Euros) 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 Euros) 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