Arsis Handbell Ensemble

was developed from the chamber choir “Arsis” in 1993. Today ensemble consists of 8 players and owns one of the most impressive bell collections in the world, all produced at the Malmark Bellcraftsmen factory in the USA. In addition to the main staff, Arsis has youth ensembles and handbell schools in Tallinn and Tartu City. 

 

The ensemble has given concerts in many different places and countries all over the world – South Africa, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, England, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Canada, Belgium, USA, Portugal, Poland, Holland, China, Lebanon. Arsis has performed in many music festivals, like Ottawa Chamber Music Festival and The Festival Classique des Hautes-Laurentides in Canada, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival and Rudolstadt world music festival in Germany, Probaltica festival in Poland, Baltic Music Festival in China, Al Bustani festival in Lebanon etc. 

 

The most prestigious halls that have hosted Arsis are the Grand Hall of St Petersburg Philharmonic, Oslo Concert Hall, Shanghai City Theatre, El Pardo Palace in Madrid, the concert in the latter was attended by the Spanish Royal Couple.

Co-operation partners: Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Estonian National Male Choir, the Boys’ Choir of the Estonian National Opera, Estonian National Ballet dancers, opera soloists Rauno Elp, Oliver Kuusik, Kristel Pärtna et al. Canadian guitar virtuoso Rémi Boucher has performed with Arsis in the USA, Canada, Germany, Holland and Estonia.  Arsis is playing mostly arrangements of classical music but also a lot of original music. Eight CDs have been released by now.

 

Aivar Mäe –

the artistic director and conductor of Arsis ensembles. 

Aivar Mäe is known as an excellent generator of ideas and a promoter of music and theatre in Estonia culture. He has been the general manager of Eesti Kontsert and Vanemuine Theatre as well as the chairman of the Council of the Russian Theatre. He has been in charge of the establishment and renovations of several concert halls. Aivar Mäe has received many cultural awards, including the “Baltic Star” award. He has held various choir and handbell music seminars and has organized international festivals. Since 2009, Aivar Mäe is the general manager of the Estonian National Opera.