Composer, ECU member since 2012Born on 14.10.1986
Evelin Seppar began studying composition at the age of 15 under the guidance of Alo Põldmäe. From 2006 to 2010, she studied at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with René Eespere. During the 2008/2009 academic year, she continued her studies at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg, Sweden, under Ole Lützow-Holm as part of the Erasmus exchange programme.
In 2012, Seppar graduated cum laude with a master’s degree from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, where she studied under Toivo Tulev and Helena Tulve. She currently works as a freelance composer.
Seppar has composed music for solo instruments, instrumental and vocal chamber ensembles, orchestra and electronics, and has also created numerous arrangements. She is particularly recognised for her choral compositions.
Major Works and Artistic Achievements
- 2010 – Taaveti laul nr 88 (Psalm 88) received a special prize at the composition competition organised by the Estonian Composers’ Union and Pirita Convent.
- 2011 – Vend veehädas (Brother in trouble) won first prize at the competition for choral compositions and arrangements in the Võro language.
- 2012 – Sonett nr 53 (Sonnet No. 53) was performed by the Latvian Radio Choir at the Latvian contemporary music festival Arēna.
- 2012 – Premiere of the opera Teine (The Other) at St Nicholas’ Church in Tallinn.
- 2014 – Premiere of the opera Icarus at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
- 2014 – Premiere of Lighthouse, for vocal ensemble and two instrumentalists, in Nantes, France.
- 2014 – Ortus International New Music Competition – Near was selected as one of the winning compositions at the international contemporary music competition held in the United States.
- 2016 – Premiere of Cities, for vocal ensemble, at the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ in Amsterdam.
- 2017 – Premiere of Psalm 129 in Utrecht, performed by the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir as part of the 150 Psalms project.
- 2019 – Premiere of Seesama Meri (The Same Sea) at the World Music Days festival in Tallinn.
- 2023 – Premiere of the Clarinet Concerto Kraft in Tallinn.
- 2025 – Iris placed sixth in the general category of the International Rostrum of Composers and was included in the list of recommended works.
- 2026 – Recipient of the Annual Award of the Music Endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.
Masterclasses and International Activities
During her studies, Evelin Seppar participated in masterclasses led by numerous internationally acclaimed composers, including Brett Dean, Sir James MacMillan, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Tapio Tuomela, Ole Lützow-Holm, Isabel Soveral, Lasse Thoresen, Veli-Matti Puumala, Marco Stroppa, William Brooks and Michaël Levinas.
Her compositions have been performed throughout Europe, the United States and China.
Seppar’s music has been performed by numerous internationally renowned orchestras and choirs, including the Estonian Festival Orchestra, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO), the Netherlands Chamber Choir, SWR Vokalensemble, the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, the Latvian Radio Choir, the Helsinki Chamber Choir and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.
Additional info:
Estonian Music information Centre