Mixed Choir HUIK! brings together around 40 young singers from different walks of life, united by their passion for choral music. The choir has its roots in Tallinn Old Town Educational College, where a group of alumni wanted to continue making music together. HUIK! was founded in 2009 by the young and ambitious conductor Kaspar Mänd, under whose direction the choir thrived for nine seasons.
The singers of HUIK! share a deep interest in music from various eras. Over the years, the choir has performed both Estonian and international repertoire, from contemporary works to major choral-orchestral compositions. Among others, HUIK! has performed Mendelssohn’s “Lobgesang” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 together with the New Street Orchestra (conducted by Kaspar Mänd), as well as Einojuhani Rautavaara’s a cappella Vigilia (conducted by Ingrid Mänd).
HUIK! actively collaborates with young Estonian composers such as Evelin Seppar, Pärt Uusberg, Ivo Lille, and others. Estonian choral classics have also remained close to the singers’ hearts – especially the works of Mart Saar, Veljo Tormis, Eduard Tubin, and Cyrillus Kreek.
The choir has successfully participated in several international competitions. Recent achievements include:
– 1st place at the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition 2023 in Cork, Ireland
– 2nd place in both the mixed choirs and folk music categories at Tallinn 2023
– 2nd place at the Ave Verum competition in Austria (2022).
Some of the choir’s most memorable recent performances include the Estonian National Opera’s concert production for the 105th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, Robert Jürjendal’s premiere Räägi tasa minuga in collaboration with the Estonian Percussion Ensemble, concerts with alumni and former conductors, a stage production created for Telia in collaboration with Veiko Tubin and NOËP, and HUIK!’s traditional ensemble Christmas concerts.
HUIK!’s debut album, Lembit Veevo, released in 2022 under the artistic direction of Ingrid Mänd, was named Choir Album of the Year by the Estonian Choral Association.
The name HUIK! is an acronym of the Estonian phrase “hääled ulatuvad inimeste kõrvu” (“voices reach people’s ears”) – though it also happily resonates with the words huige and huikama, meaning “to whoop” or “to call out”.
The chief conductor of Mixed Choir HUIK! is Ode Pürg.
Highlights of the Season 2023/2024
- Performance at the Estonian Choral Association Annual Awards Gala, where Lembit Veevo was named Choir Album of the Year and Ode Pürg received the Young Conductor of the Year award.
- Concert production celebrating the 105th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia at the National Opera, directed by Renate Keerd and conducted by Ingrid Mänd.
- Participation in Eerik Jõksi’s doctoral concerts “Kostke, laulud, eesti keeles” (Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre), performing Estonian choral classics in rhythmic speech; the pieces were later recorded.
- Tallinn 2023 International Choir Festival – 2nd place in both mixed choirs and folk music categories.
- Fleischmann International Trophy Competition (Cork, Ireland) – 1st place and a special prize for the best performance of a work by a European composer; the tour also included a concert in Dublin.
- Participation in the 13th Estonian Youth Song Celebration.
- Joint concert with Chamber Women’s Choir Muusad at Haapsalu Cathedral as part of the choir conductors’ and music teachers’ summer seminar.
- Performances for EMTA student Illia Humeniuk’s bachelor’s final conducting concert series “Mountain of Silence”.
- Traditional HUIK! ensemble Christmas concerts.
