About TÜSO

Foto: Kaupo Kikkas

With a history dating back to the 1930s, Tartu University Symphony Orchestra (TÜSO) was reborn in its current form in 2009. It is the first amateur adult orchestra in Estonia. The original orchestra’s activities were interrupted by World War II and later again due to its leaders graduating from university in the 1970s and 1980s. The 2009 rebirth was led by today’s current rector, Alar Karis, and head of NGO Tartu Students Club (MTÜ Tartu Üliõpilasmaja), Kulno Kungla. The orchestra is made up of university students and alumni, but also other amateur musicians who come from outside the university.

The orchestra plays classical music, film music, but has also played specially commissioned music. Every year TÜSO perform an advent concert in the lead-up to Christmas, and a spring concert, with various other exciting collaborations and projects in between. For example, TÜSO has performed several times in the Tartu City Days gala concert and in 2015 travelled to the World Expo in Milan to perform at the Estonian pavilion.

Ten seasons after reforming, TÜSO celebrated this special anniversary at the same time that the University of Tartu celebrated its own 100th anniversary as Estonia’s National University. As part of this, TÜSO had the honour of performing a specially commissioned piece by Pärt Uusberg for symphony orchestra and choir called “…ja tuulelaeval valgusest on aerud …”. In March of the same year, TÜSO performed live on Estonian Classical Radio. In addition to traditional orchestral concerts, TÜSO has also collaborated in other projects, for example with Tartu band X-Panda on their album “Reflections”.

While TÜSO calls the main hall of the University of Tartu home for rehearsals and regular seasonal concerts, TÜSO has performed across Estonia, for example at the Vanemuine concert hall in Tartu, Pärnu concert hall, Võru cultural centre, Jõgeva cultural centre, Tõrva church, not to mention the Estonia concert hall in Tallinn and Estonia’s main song festival stage in Tallinn too.

TÜSO has worked with various other musicians and collectives over the years. Soloists include Reigo Tamm, Tanel Joamets, Kärt Ruubel, Kädy Plaas, Maria Listra, Andreas Lend, Indrek Leivategija, Riivo Kallasmaa, Anna-Liisa Eller, and Sven-Sander Šeštakov, to name just a few. We have also had the privilege of performing premieres of various musical works, including those of Pärt Uusberg, Lauri Jõeleht, and an arrangement of well-known music by Sven Grünberg.

From 2009 to 2016, TÜSO’s head conductor was Lauri Sirp. Since 2016, TÜSO has been conducted by Taavi Kull.

TÜSO was created to inspire those of an academic nature to engage in music and add colour to the musical life of Tartu, and thanks goes to the University of Tartu and our neighbours, the Estonian University of Life Sciences, for supporting its activities.