Estonian Sinfonietta

„Estonian Sinfonietta is made up of music-loving performers with soloistic abilities who don’t work hard — they simply enjoy playing the music they love.’’

— Toomas Velmet

Estonian Sinfonietta is a freelance orchestra. Its size can vary from a small chamber group to a full sinfonietta, giving it the flexibility to perform a wide range of music and play an active role in sharing the world’s musical heritage. The orchestra is committed to promoting Estonian music and musicians — both abroad and at home. Along with inviting guest soloists, Estonian Sinfonietta also values giving solo opportunities to its own players and keeps this in mind when planning its concerts. Estonian Sinfonietta often performs without a conductor. In those cases, the concertmaster leads the group — not by conducting, but by guiding the performance from within. This brings out the chamber music character of the works and creates a more personal and expressive interpretation that connects with today’s listeners. Maano Männi (2017–2019) and Johannes Põlda (2019–2023) have served as concertmasters in the past. Since June 2023, Peeter Margus has taken on the role. The orchestra also works with distinguished guest concertmasters, including world-renowned Estonian violinist Anna-Liisa Bezrodny and Rūta Lipinaitytė, a leading Lithuanian violinist and highly respected musician.

The orchestra has released two albums: Pärt Uusberg’s author album „Kuma’’ / „Glow” was released in 2023, and Robert Jürjendal’s „Gamma’’ in 2026. Furthermore, the Estonian Sinfonietta has premiered numerous works by both Estonian and international composers, including Malle Maltis, Riho Esko Maimets, Lauri Jõeleht, Pärt Uusberg, Robert Jürjendal, Johann Valentin Meder, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Marianna Martinez, to name just a few.

The orchestra is committed to promoting Estonian music and musicians — both abroad and at home. Along with inviting guest soloists, Estonian Sinfonietta also values giving solo opportunities to its own players and keeps this in mind when planning its concerts. The orchestra has performed on many renowned stages, including the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna (2018), the Konzerthaus in Vienna (2022), Pesti Vigadó Concert Hall (2025), the Great Hall of the Philharmonie in Cologne (2024, 2025). Introducing Estonian music and musicians to the world—and, of course, to audiences at home in Estonia—is of great importance to the musicians of the ⁠Estonian Sinfonietta. As a result, works by Estonian composers from various eras have become a regular part of the orchestra’s concert programs, thereby broadening the audience’s experience of Estonian musical culture.