Estonian National Conductors Wind Orchestra
(Vabariiklik Orkestrijuhtide Puhkpilliorkester, VOP), is established in 1965
under the umbrella of the Estonian Wind Music Society. Estonian Wind Band
conductors from the amateur and professional orchestras in Estonia meet 4-5 times a year. The aim and goals where always the development of the Estonian
wind band music through seminars and presentations and concerts in the
perspective of the wind music. During the meetings are themes about orchestra
work and new repertoire from Estonia and abroad alway the experience. VOP
organizes seminars all over Estonia and focus on reaching, connecting and
involving musicians in the wind band movement.
From 2013 is VOP artistic director/conductor Bert Langeler, together with the
conductors Hando Põldmäe, Ott Kask and Valdo Rüütelmaa.
In the past VOP worked together with several (guest) conductors and lecturers
from Estonia, Harry Illak, Aavo Ots, Peeter Saan, Toomas Vavilov, Olavi
Kasemaa, and abroad Donald de Roche (USA), Penti Jalonen, Asko Vilen and
Jukka Viitasaari (Soome), Ǻge Korneliussen (Norway), Janis Purin¹ (Latvia)and
Vilys Kokamägi (Latvia), Arild Andersen (Norway), John Stanley (USA) and
more.
Beside the seminars in Estonia (Tallinn, Tartu, Kabala, Misso, Võru, Narva,
Põlvamaa, Põltsamaa, Torma, Väägvere, Vigala, Viljandi, Kuremaa jne.) VOP
expand their travels as well to: Riga, Ventspils (Latvia), Minsk (White Russia)
Moscow (Russia), Bil¹t¹e-Zolotoje (Ukrain), Petroskoi, Riva del Garda (Italy),
Järvenpää, Rauma (Finland), Stockholm (Sweden), Decin (Czech), Calella
(Spain) .
In the orchestra repertoire is a premature attention for the Estonian wind band
repertoire – from the early original wind band composers David Otto Wirkhaus,
Eduard Tamm, E. Liives, Raimond Kull, P. Karp, Rein Ploom Hans Hindpere,
Priit Raik , Aadu Regi, F. Mandre, Ülo Raudmäe, till nowadays composers , as:
Tõnis Kõrvits jt, Ott Kask, Ülo Krigul, Rein Rannap, Uno Naissoo, Riivo Jõgi,
Renee Eespere.