ANDREAS LEND (b. 1983) began his cello studies at the Tallinn Music High School under Laine Leichter and later earned his master’s degree from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under Prof. Peeter Paemurru. He furthered his studies at the Sibelius Academy in Finland with Professors Hannu Kiiski and Heikki Pekkarinen. Lend has participated in masterclasses with renowned cellists such as F. Helmerson, D. Geringas, M. Ostertag, and J. Goritzki. He is a prizewinner of numerous competitions, including I Prize and Grand Prix at the “Renaissance” International Festival (Armenia, 2013), I Prize at the ESTA Estonia National Competition (2004), and is a laureate of the Liezen International Cello Competition (Austria, 2000). He was selected for the European Union Youth Orchestra under Vladimir Ashkenazy (2007). Lend has appeared as a soloist with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Nordica, and the Youth Orchestra of America, and made his solo debut at Cologne Philharmonie in 2024. He was a cellist in the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (2006–2016) and has been a member of the Estonian National Opera Orchestra (since 2016), becoming principal cellist in 2023. He is also active as a chamber musician with Prezioso Quartet and Estonian Cello Ensemble. Andreas Lend is a scholarship recipient of Music Trust PLMF.

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ALLAN JAKOBI has graduated from both Tallinn Music High School (1987, class of J. Kirs) and the Georg Ots Tallinn Music School (1992, class of J. Sommer) as an accordionist. He has also received training as an orchestra conductor at the Tallinn Pedagogical University (1996-'97, class of R.Brauer) and has taken part in several master classes for accordionists (Matti Rantanen, Mogens Ellegård etc.). Allan Jakobi is active as a freelance accordionist in the genres of pop music, jazz improvisation and classical music. He has performed at festivals in Kuhmo, Bornholm, Moscow, Vilnius, Limbaži and Kiel and also at “Jazzkaar” and “Jazz Fiesta”. Since 1999 he has cooperated with Neeme Punder, Lembit Orgse, Jaan Arder and Ants Nuut (the programme “Living Classics”) and since 2000 with Tiit Peterson (the programme “Tangoballet”). For years he has been a member of folk ensembles (Peiarid, Savijalakesed), with whom he has performed in many European countries and in the U.S. Allan Jakobi has also performed both on stages and in recording studios together with many distinguished Estonian soloists and ensembles (Gerli Padar, Ivo Linna, Rein Rannap, Uno Loop, Tarmo Pihlap, Erkki Otsman, Mart Sander, Henry Laks, Erich Krieger, Evelin Samuel, Boris Lehtlaan, ensembles Hitty Bitty, Apelsin, Slobodan River, Akordionitrio, Mr. Lawrence, Trio Naturale, Pärnu City Orchestra, orchestras of the Estonian National Opera and of Theatre Vanemuine). Since 2004 Allan Jakobi is the manager of Akordion Centrum OÜ which imports Italian accordions to the Baltic states.