Tõnu Kõrvits is an Estonian composer who began his academic career in composition at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater, where he graduated under the tutelage of Raimo Kangro in 1994, then continued with a master's degree under Jaan Rääts. He also took part in courses with the Metropole Orkest and Vince Mendoza in 1997 and with Stephen Montague in 1998. A member of the Estonian Composers' Union since 1994, he has contributed to the training of new generations as a composition teacher at the Academy since 2001. His career is also illustrated by his role as composer-in-residence for the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra during the 2003-2004 season. Internationally recognized, Kõrvits has seen his works performed at prestigious festivals, and has received multiple honors, including the Heino Eller Music Prize in 2001, the Cultural Prize of the Republic of Estonia in 2011 and 2016, and the Order of the White Star, 3rd class, in 2016. In 2017, his album"Moorland Elegies" was crowned Classical Album of the Year, and in 2018 he was awarded the Lepo Sumera Prize for Composition.
