At the start of 2021, the music endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia launched a two-year residency programme for instrumental ensembles.

According to Marje Lohuaru, the Chairwoman of the musical endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, the objective of the programme is to expand opportunities for ensemble music. The residency aims to support the establishment of new ensembles, offer opportunities to trial collaboration with managers, and update the ensemble’s repertoire. The applicants are expected to have been actively involved in music for a substantial period.

The programme lasts two years, after which a new programme for new instrumental ensembles will be launched.  Eligible applicants include ensembles whose members are Estonian citizens up to 35 years of age, who have graduated from or are enrolled in a specialist programme at an internationally recognised (accredited) institution of higher education.

Applicants must submit a motivation letter and a video of at least 20 minutes of the ensemble’s performance, including works or movements from different historical periods. It is expected that the ensemble will choose a personal manager whose task is to plan and organise concerts in collaboration with the ensemble, including planning the residency programme, organising concerts in Estonia and abroad, and finding novel and inspiring solutions when choosing concert venues, dealing with PR, preparing financing applications, finding co-funders and managing the documentation and reports.

An ensemble selected for the residency programme commits to perform at least eight concerts with at least four different programmes during the two-year-period, and at least two of the concert programmes must feature Estonian music, including new pieces.

The music endowment funds the ensemble’s concerts, participation in international professional networks, participation in some international residency programmes and the manager’s fees. During the residency period, the ensemble members receive a creative scholarship, and the composer who writes new pieces for the ensemble receives support for creative work.

ˇIn 2021 the music endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia invited the string quartet M4GNET to participate in the first residency programme. The quartet consists of Robert Traksmann (1st violin), Katariina Maria Kits (2nd violin), Mart Kuusma (viola) and Marcel Johannes Kits (cello). The manager of the ensemble is Taavi Hark.

Robert Traksmann is studying violin at the Berlin music academy Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler with Prof. Kolja Blacher. Mart Kuusmaa is studying at the German music academy Hochschule für Musik Detmold with Prof. Diemut Poppen. Marcel Johannes Kits and Katariina Maria Kits are studying at the Berlin University of the Arts (Universität der Künste Berlin) – Marcel with Prof. Jens Peter Maintz and Katariina with Prof. Tomasz Tomaszewski.