Toomas Vavilov

TOOMAS VAVILOV is one of Estonia's most prominent clarinet players. He graduated in the clarinet specialty from the Tallinn Music High School (1988, teacher Ülo Üksik) and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (1992, professor Hannes Altrov), also in orchestral conducting (1998, professor Jüri Alperten).

He has furthered his studies in conducting under Jonas Aleksa and Roman Matsov, and as a clarinetist, he has participated in masterclasses by Karl Leister and Ivan Mozgovenko. In 1990, he won first place in the Estonian Wind Instrument Players Competition.

Vavilov has served as the associate conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (2004–2006) and as the music director and chief conductor of the Vanemuine Theatre (2006-07). Additionally, he has collaborated with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Latvian Radio Choir.

As a clarinetist, he has performed concerts in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Germany, Belgium, Australia, and elsewhere. Vavilov is a professor at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and a pedagogue in the wind department. He has also been a jury member for various competitions. He has received the Estonian Cultural Endowment's Annual Award for Music (2001) and the Performer's Stipendium (2005).