Ethno Estonia 2024

Welcome to the XXVIII ETHNO Estonia 2024 camp on 16th-29th July 2024!

ETHNO is an international music camp for participants aged 18-30 years, where traditional music from different countries is learned by ear in workshops led by the participants themselves. Learning and arranging the tunes is led by artistic leaders. Ethno Estonia is one of the biggest and oldest ethnos in the world. Usually, we have 5-6 artistic leaders and 60-70 participants of which half are locals. So double the amount of joy is guaranteed! 

Our camp takes place in a beautiful manor in a small village called Kõpu. It lasts for 14 days of which the last 4 we spend at Viljandi Folk Music Festival where we give 2-3 concerts and get to enjoy many more. At the camp, you can enjoy collective workshops, dance and bonfire nights, free stage concerts, road trips, special guests, creative tasks, etc. Whether you sing or play melody, harmony, or percussion instruments – you are welcome!

NB! Participants will be selected according to the availability of places in different instrument groups and the level of playing skills. If you’ve been to ETHNO Estonia three times in a row, then others with less experience are given priority this time. However, you are very welcome to apply! 

Additional information: eestietno@gmail.com

Organizers:  

MARGIT KUHI (Chief of Ethno Estonia)

After getting a degree in traditional music at Viljandi Culture Academy, Margit started to organize different courses and music camps with the aim to spread the word about the coolest kind of music in the world – folk music! 

She says that it’s a great pleasure for her to meet all these wonderful and talented young people every year: “The way they create that special Ethno-world inspires me to organize the camp again and again and again…”.

As the mother of Ethno Estonia, Margit is in charge of the big picture – making sure that everything is at its best!

KÄRT TAMBET (Artistic director)

Kärt is a true Ethno-soul whose biggest passion is learning about musical traditions of different people and places, and creating her own sonic expression through these exposures. For that reason she also earned a degree in Global Music from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. In addition to that, Kärt is an occasional host of radio shows, plays DJ sets at parties, gives workshops and teaches at various music camps and different community settings. 

At Ethno, she is responsible for making sure that all the artistic work and everyday activities are running as smoothly as possible.

HANNA-REET RUUL (Head of communication)

Hanna-Reet is a musician from the forests of Võrumaa. In 2020 she started studying traditional singing at Viljandi Culture Academy which gave her a chance to go study at the Irish World Academy as an exchange student, joining the World Music programme.

Besides studying, she’s been in groups like ÖÖT, Poogendajad, and Iiri-Eesti lauluvägi, organized local sessions, and taught traditional music and dances to kids.

Hanna-Reet joined the ETHNO world in 2020 with Ethno Estonia and after that, she’s grabbed every chance to join an ethno – as a participant, volunteer, mentor, or organizer!

In (and before and after) Ethno, she’s responsible for communication and social media and making sure that everything is running smoothly on the spot too.

LEON ALLIK (Listener, observer, starter of games and events)

Name: Léon Allik 

Living in: Tallinn 

Main philosophy: Improvisation 

Main instrument: Guitar 

Function in Ethno Estonia: Listener, observer and starter of games and events 

I keep an eye out, that everyone would have an opportunity to feel free, creative, and joyful. Ethno camp is a place for me where: 

• I can travel on the colourful landscape of music from the wide world;
• (re)discover again and again how beautiful and awesome people are; 
• play, run, laugh;
• lay in the grass while the sun shines, and listen as the songs of birds melt together with the distant sound of instruments.