Winner of the Estonian String Players Competition 2025 • Lossimuusika
Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 6 p.m.
Kadriorg Palace / Kadriorg Art Museum, Tallinn
Palace Music New Year Concert
Triinu Piirsalu - violin
Winner of the Estonian String Players Competition 2025
The Palace Music Concert Series gives the outstanding laureate of the Estonian String Players Competition 2025 a special prize, which is a solo concert in the hall of the Kadriorg Palace.
Competition information: https://eamt.ee/uritused/eesti-keelpillimangijate-konkurss-2025/
Triinu Piirsalu is one of the most outstanding Estonian violinists of her generation, having received widespread recognition both at home and abroad. She is a soloist with an emotional and compelling performance style and a passionate chamber musician. In autumn 2023, Triinu began her master’s studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich in the violin class of Professor Mi-kyung Lee, while also pursuing a soloist diploma at the Royal Danish Academy of Music under the guidance of Professor Peter Herresthal.
Triinu has participated in numerous national and international competitions. In April 2023, she was selected, alongside four other outstanding young Norwegian musicians, by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra to perform as a soloist at their traditional concert De Unges Konsert. This opportunity was accompanied by the Grieg Foundation Award and a solo performance with the orchestra (Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 2).
In November 2020, she was awarded third prize and a special prize from the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra at the Estonian String Players’ Competition. In autumn 2020, she achieved second place in the televised competition Klassikatähed and was also the audience favourite.
At the beginning of 2024, Triinu Piirsalu received the Young Musician Award from the Hansa Group Fund. She began her violin studies at Tallinn Music School under Katrin Talmar and continued at Tallinn Music High School under the guidance of Tiiu Peäske.
In 2019, she began her bachelor’s studies at the Sibelius Academy in the violin class of Professor Réka Szilvay. During her years in Helsinki, Triinu developed a growing interest in the folk music of different countries. During her exchange year in Norway (2022/2023), she also took up playing the Hardanger fiddle.
She has a strong artistic collaboration and friendship with Aavik Duo, with whom she has performed new works written specifically for their ensemble by Estonian composers such as Tõnu Kõrvits, Peeter Vähi, and Liis Jürgenson. Triinu plays in various chamber ensembles and is also a member of the Estonian Festival Orchestra.
She plays a violin made by M. Deconet in 1760.
Kadriorg Palace is one the most well known and beautiful historic concert halls in Estonia offering memorable music experiences already for many decades. The tradition of performing music in the baroque palace goes back to 18th century when court music accompanied the daily life. The palace has had the pleasure to welcome many international artists and ensembles for outstanding performances.
The construction of the Kadriorg Palace was started by the Tsar Peter the Great of Russia in 1718. It was named Catharinenthal (in Estonian Kadriorg) in honour of his wife Catherine I. The palace was designed by the Italian architect Nicola Michetti and its abundantly decorated main hall is one of the most exquisite examples of baroque architecture both in Estonia and in northern Europe.
Kadriorg Palace has always been the crown jewel of Tallinn. The small festive tsars’ palace in the style of Roman Baroque, surrounded by a regular garden, with fountains, hedges and flowerbeds, planned after the model of Versailles.
The palace was a summer residence of Russian emperors untill 1917. In the 1920s, and again in 1946-1991 palace served as the main building of the Art Museum of Estonia. In the 1930s, it was the residence of the Head of State of the Estonian Republic. In 2000, it was opened as the Kadriorg Art Museum, which displays the largest collection of old Russian and Western European art in Estonia.
Music has been performed in the palace halls since the 18th century. In the past few decades, the most brilliant Estonian and international musicians have delighted listeners in the palace. Regular concerts started to take place in the Kadriorg Palace again in 2014, when the museum launched the Palace Music Concert Series. The extraordinary acoustics and the magnificent interior of the main hall make every concert a truly enjoyable artistic experience.
The artistic director of the Palace Music Concert Series is Aare Tammesalu.
In cooperation of the Art Museum of Estonia.
Tickets are on sale at the Kadriorg Art Museum and Piletikeskus outlets.
Supporters: Estonian Ministry of Culture, The Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Public Broadcasting, Tallinn Culture and Sports Department, UNESCO City of Music Tallinn, Kultuurikõla, Pointprint
Special thanks: Visit Estonia, Visit Tallinn, Õhtuleht
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