Quickly gaining ground on the world stage as both a composer and musician, young violist and multi-instrumentalist Kristjan Kannukene showcases his virtuosic musical and compositional talents through a unique, vivacious performance at the cozy and inviting Tranzac Club.
Kristjan Kannukene
Kristjan Kannukene (1996) has explored various musical landscapes within his performative career. Thus far, he has received wide recognition for his vocal talents. In collaboration with piano virtuoso Rein Rannap, he released an album titled “KEELATUD! Ruja varased laulud, Eesti esimene rokkalbum 43 aastat hiljem” (PROHIBITED! Ruja’s Early Repertoire, Estonia’s First Rock Album 43 Years Later), and a film documenting the process of making the record was produced as well. Spurred on by his love of rock, Kristjan later released his own debut album titled “333.” Soon thereafter, his first major performance “ORG#MAD” took place at the artistic festival “Klaaspärlimäng” (Glasspearlgame), featuring a repertoire for viola and chamber orchestra. Blending rock and classical music together, he performed Bach’s violin concerto in A-minor on the electric guitar along with the bachFest orchestra. While he was studying in London, he collaborated with modern dancers through improvisation. Within the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre’s 100th anniversary year, he composed the music for the joint performative collaboration between the academy’s School of Theatre and NUKU Theatre called “Tuulte pöörises” (Whirlwind). Kannukene has performed several of his own compositions at London’s Wigmore Hall and at the Fuentidueña chapel of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Recently he took part in various master classes for the viola in Italy and Switzerland, among them famed Japanese violist Nobuko Imai’s workshop. Just this summer, Kristjan released his first improvisational album in collaboration with Iranian-based cellist Roxanna Albayati titled "Daste Ma دست ما.”
Kannukene recently finished and received his master’s degree for classical viola studies at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and will continue this fall towards a master’s in modern improvisation. In 2018-2019, he furthered his studies at London’s Trinity Laban conservatory. Among other achievements, the young musician won first place within the stringed instrument category at the international classical music competition “Kaunas Sonorum 2017” and the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research presented him in 2018 with the title of Student of the Year. Kristjan belongs to the fraternity Fraternitas Liviensis.
PWYC (recommended $10), walk-in seating
Estonian Music Week is a project by Estonian Museum Canada / VEMU.
Presenting Partners: Kotkajärve Metsaülikool (Forest University) , Tranzac Club