The PÄRNU CITY ORCHESTRA was founded in 1994 and has been conducted by Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Kristjan Järvi, Jorma Panula, Eri Klas, Olari Elts, Paul Mägi, Vello Pähn, Arvo Volmer, Erki Pehk, György Selmeczi, Marcello Rota and others. The orchestra’s first Chief Conductor was Loit Lepalaan and in 1998 to 2017 Jüri Alperten. Since 2019, Kaspar Mänd has been the Chief Conductor of the Pärnu City Orchestra. Many renowned soloists have performed with the Pärnu City Orchestra: violinists Sarah Chang, Leila Josefowich, Liana Issakadze, Sergei Stadler, Xiang Gao, Anna-Liisa Bezrodny; pianists Chitose Okashiro, Arbo Valdma, Kalle Randalu, Ivari Ilja; horn player Wilhelm Schwaiger, trumpet player Tine Thing Helseth, bassoonist Martin Kuuskmann, and clarinet virtuoso Matthew Hunt, among others. The orchestra has taken part in numerous musical productions and operas. It has recorded the album Soovide linn (The City of Desires, 2003), the works of Gavin Bryars with RAM (2008), Urmas Sisask’s Te Deum with the Pärnu Chamber Choir (2011), the album Kuus aastaaega+ (Six Seasons+, 2012), the DVD Rändavad laulud (Wandering Songs, 2014), as well as music for the films Pimedad aknad (Dark Windows, 2007), Noored kotkad (The Young Eagles, 2008), Perekonnavaled (Family Lies, 2014) and Supilinna salaselts (The Secret Society of Souptown, 2015). The Pärnu City Orchestra is a frequent performer at Estonian music festivals and has twice received the Pärnu Annual Music Award for its outstanding creative achievements, in 2002 and in 2007.
