Neeme Järvi

The internationally acclaimed conductor Neeme Järvi was born in Tallin, the capital city of Estonia. After commencing his musical studies in the city he moved to Leningrad to study at the Leningrad Conservatory where he was mentored by two of Russia's most famous composers, Yevgeny Mravinsky and Nikolai Rabinovich. After completing his formal musical education Järvi worked with the Estonian Radio and Television Orchestra and the Tallin Opera. During this period he won first prize in the International Conductors Competition and a few years later in 1980 emigrated to the US eventually becoming an American citizen.

During his distinguished career conducting some of the world's finest orchestras Järvi has created an impressive legacy of over 400 recorded works. His 20-year tenure with the Gothenburg Symphony was defined by his renowned interpretations of the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. He runs an annual composer's masterclass in Estonia and is an enthusiastic fundraiser and promoter of classical music in his native country. His permanent home is now in New York City and he is a leading figure in the sphere of US classical music.