Erle Kont - Conductor and clarinettist

About

After completing her master’s degree in clarinet at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki with Harri Mäki and Kari Kriikku, Estonian born Erle Kont is continuing her education in master’s of conducting in the same university with Sakari Oramo and Petri Komulainen.

Upcoming engagements include conducting the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and Lahti Symphony Orchestra. 2022/2023 season saw Kont conducting the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Joensuu City Orchestra, Jyväskylä Sinfonia and others. 2021/2022 season saw Kont conducting the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Oulu Symphony Orchestra, Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Joensuu City Orchestra, Vaasa City Orchestra and others.

Erle Kont is the founder and artistic director of the contemporary music organisation Tartu Sound (2017), which premieres the music of young Estonian composers transitioning into professional life. It is a community driven organisation that brings together new music lovers, composers and instrumentalists.

Erle is also the artistic director and chief conductor of Tapiola Entertainment Orchestra (Tapiolan Viihdeorkesteri) – a big band type of an orchestra, whose repertoire ranges from nostalgic Finnish pop music to tangos and jazz.

As a prolific prize winner on the clarinet, Erle Kont is the prize winner of 14 competitions, including 1st prizes from international Eduard Medinš competition (2011, Latvia), Bohuslav Martinu and Viktor Kalabis competitions (2015, Austria) and Estonian national competition (2009, 2011).