Introduction

Mixed choir Endla was created in 1878, making it one of the oldest choirs in Estonia. The choir has been the backbone of the continuity of Endla Society throughout the history and has seen many interesting times and changes.

At the moment 34 people from all different walks of life sing in the choir. The choir can be seen and heard during Pärnu’s official events, Christmas and Summer celebrations, joint projects with other choirs and during various festivals. The choir members get together twice a week for rehearsal, which allows them to perform in many different concert halls.

The repertoire also includes many Estonian folk songs, which are always a pleasure to sing. The most memorable performances of the recent years have been the presentation of “Mass for Peace” by Karl Jenkins together with other choirs of Pärnu in 2010, at the opening ceremony of the Pärnu Choir Festival, and also the premiere performance of “Te Deum” created by Mart Siimer at the Kriisa organ consecration in St Elisabeth Church.

Over the years the choir has participated in various choir contests in Estonia and Europe and achieved many different awards.

In 2007 the first CD was released, “Seitsmest üheksani” (“From Seven to Nine”) which is a mix of songs from the oldest ones to the modern hits.

In 2012 the Mixed Choir Endla participated in the concert dedicated to Mart Saar’s 130th anniversary and in 2014 the choir had another anniversary to celebrate – 136 years since the creation of Endla Society.

 

Kadri Põder (born in 1990) has been working as a second conductor of mixed choir „Endla“ since 2013. She sang for 11 years in a girl’s choir „Argentum Vox“ (conductor T. Voll) and after entering Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre she took part of EAMT’s mixed choir (conductors T. Kaljuste, T. Kapten). In 2014 she finished Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (MA) as a music teacher. She has worked with choirs (the mixed choir of EAMT, Alumni Chamber Choir of Tallinn University of Technology) and with orchestras (Estonian Youth Wind Orchestra, wind orchestra „Saxon“).