News
ETHNO Estonia places are filled
26.04.2011
The number of young people applying to attend the XV ETHNO Estonia camp at Viljandimaa on July 21-28 was again overwhelming and, thus, all the avalilable places were filled already by April 25. However, the organiser of the camp, August Pulst School, will keep writing down the names of those interested in attending in the event that someone cancels their booking.
Youngsters have always been interested in attending the camp, but during the last two years, they have been exceptionally quick to register. The Project Manager, Margit Kuhi, said that the organisers were used to closing the registration in early summer but last year, suprisingly, the list was full already by April. "This pattern repeated itself this year. It seems that taking part in ETHNO Estonia has become a valuable experience which most of the youngsters in Estonia who are interested in traditional music are hoping to gain. We are very glad because this assures us that we have been doing the right thing for the last 14 years."
Similarly to previous years, this year's camp takes place at Kõpu mansion which is situated 20 km from Viljandi. During the week, more than 60 musically talented 16-30-year-olds meet at the camp to improve their instrument playing skills and gain invaluable experiences. In the end of the camp, the youngsters get to perform together at Viljandi Folk Music Festival.
The tradition of holding ETHNO Estonia camps started in 1997 when two UT Viljandi Culture Academy traditional music students Krista Sildoja and Tuulikki Bartosik took part in the Falun ETHNO in Sweden. After that, they both wanted to start something similar in Estonia, The first Estonian study camp was organised under the name of Noorte Moosekantide Pillimängupäevad (Instrument Playing Days for Young Musicians) at Viljandi in July of the same year.
August Pulst School is a non-formal educational centre operating under Estonian Traditional Music Center which organises traditional music courses, workshops, study camps, concerts and individual instrument lessons.