Erle Kont - Conductor and clarinettist

About

Estonian conductor Erle Kont (b. 1995) is known for her powerful performances, warm communication style with musicians and innovative concert ideas. She is one of the most sought-after guest conductors in Finland. Her upcoming engagements this season include re-invitations to work with Tapiola Sinfonietta and Joensuu City Orchestra, as well as debuts with Kirkkonummi Chamber Orchestra and Orkester Norden. In recent years, Kont has conducted orchestras such as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Oulu Symphony Orchestra, Joensuu City Orchestra, Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Vaasa City Orchestra, Seinäjoki City Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias and Ploiești Philharmonic Orchestra.

Erle holds two master’s degrees from the Sibelius Academy as a symphony orchestra conductor (studying under Sakari Oramo) and clarinettist (Kari Kriikku and Harri Mäki). She has also studied wind orchestra conducting with Petri Komulainen and choral conducting with Nils Schweckendiek at the Sibelius Academy. Kont has been mentored by Esa-Pekka Salonen, Paavo Järvi, Jorma Panula, James Gaffigan, Johannes Schlaefli, Nicolas Pasquet, Eva Ollikainen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Dalia Stasevska among others.

Kont is the founder and Artistic Director of the contemporary music organization Tartu Sound (established in 2017), which commissions and performs works by Estonian composers at the start of their careers. It is a community driven organization that brings together new music lovers, composers and instrumentalists in Tartu region, Estonia.

As a prolific prizewinner on the clarinet, Erle Kont has received awards in 14 competitions, including 1st prize at the international Eduard Medinš Competition (2011, Latvia), the Bohuslav Martinů and Viktor Kalabis Competitions (2015, Austria) and the Estonian National Competitions (2009, 2011). She has performed as an orchestral soloist in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, and Estonia.

Erle has studied the clarinet, piano and violin at the Sibelius Academy and is currently broadening her expertise through private classical singing lessons with the award-winning soprano Heta Sammalisto-Muhonen.