Estonian Music Information Centre
Estonia
Member since:
1999
Website
Director
Saale Kareda
Address
Tõnismägi 3a, Tallinn 10119
Estonia
Services
Introduction
About
The Estonian Music Information Centre plays a vital role in Estonia’s musical life. For three decades, EMIC has served as a central hub for the promotion, documentation, and dissemination of Estonian music nationally and internationally. The Centre collects, curates, and shares information, scores, recordings, and publications related to Estonian composers and performers, helping Estonian music reach wider audiences worldwide.
EMIC publishes works by 118 composers from Estonia and abroad.
EMIC’s website features profiles of 270 composers, including biographies, catalogues of works, audio samples, media coverage, and detailed information on approximately 34,100 compositions.
More than 2,300 scores are available for purchase through EMIC’s Music Store.
The EMIC archive contains an extensive collection of scores by Estonian composers, alongside CDs, DVDs, and a wide range of books. Its digital score archive contains around 260,000 pages of digitised manuscripts from the Estonian Music Foundation.
EMIC’s concert calendar features around 250 events per month. Together with EMIC’s newsletters, it provides curated information on premieres, concert activities, and other significant events in Estonia’s music scene and abroad.
The NGO Estonian Music Information Centre was established in 1995 by 15 music-related institutions and is funded by the Estonian Ministry of Culture.
Mariliis Valkonen, Maria Rostovtseva and Taavi Hark at the Estonian Chamber Choir Festival in Rakvere on April 24, 2026. Photo: Vahur Lõhmus
Services
EMIC offers a wide range of services
Information and promotion
- collecting, preserving, cataloguing, and sharing information on composers, performers, and musicologists, presenting their works and artistic activities through its databases, website, and international distribution channels
- publishing news, newsletters, and concert calendar updates, highlighting premieres, performances, tours, and other notable events involving Estonian music and musicians
- providing information and guidance on Estonian music in response to inquiries
Publishing and distribution
- publishing works by composers and managing related publishing agreements
- publishing recordings, booklets, and books that promote Estonian composers, performers, and their work
- selling scores, CDs, DVDs, publications, and books through the EMIC Music Store
Archives and research
- collecting, cataloguing, and archiving manuscripts, printed editions, sound recordings, and other publications related to composers, performers, their works, and artistic activities
- providing researchers of Estonian music with access to manuscripts, publications, and audio recordings at the EMIC office
Repertoire and score services
- providing expert guidance on repertoire selection
- helping users find scores and repertoire for a wide range of instruments, voices, and ensembles
- assisting users in locating unpublished scores and manuscripts
- offering paper-free rental of orchestral materials through the Scoremusic app, enabling the digital management, sharing, and annotation of scores
Have a look at the EMIC website to view all information they have to offer about Estonian music life.
Visit the EMIC website
Recent Publications
EMIK provides monthly newsletters on the Estonian music scene:
Insights into our work
Saale Kareda in her office at EMIC, photo: Erki Laansalu
Saale Kareda and Mariliis Valkonen at the celebration of International Music Day in Tallinn on October 1, 2025. Photo: Kalev Lilleorg
On May 3, 2025 the Estonian Music Information Centre celebrated its 30th anniversay, photo: Rene Jakobson
Kerri Kotta, Chairman of the EMIC Board, at the ceremony marking EMIC’s 30th anniversary at the Estonian Radio 1st Studio. Photo: Rene Jakobson
Saale Kareda at the 2026 Estonian Music Business Awards (EMEA) gala in Tallinn, where EMIC received the Music Estonia Special Recognition Award. Photo: Rauno Li
Interview
Saale Kareda
Estonian Music Information Centre (EMIK) – Director
Saale Kareda – Director of the Estonian Music Information Centre
For readers outside Estonia: How is musical life organised and structured?
Estonian music culture is vibrant and inspiring, with a distinctive voice on the global music scene. For a country of its size, Estonia has an exceptionally large number of talented musicians and composers. Music is deeply rooted in Estonia’s cultural identity, with its strong presence reflected in both tradition and a highly active contemporary musical life.
The Estonian musical ecosystem is shaped by the following key components:
Education: Estonia has a comprehensive music education system, ranging from early childhood music schools to higher professional music education at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Music education is highly valued and widely available.
Choirs and Song Festivals: Choir singing is a central part of Estonian culture. The country is known for its large-scale Song Celebration (Laulupidu), held every five years, where thousands of singers perform together, symbolising national unity.
Professional Institutions: Estonia has several prominent orchestras, opera companies, choirs, and ensembles, including the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, the Estonian National Opera and the Estonian National Theatre Vanemuine, all of which play a key role in the country’s musical life.
Contemporary and Folk Music: Alongside classical music, Estonia has an active folk and contemporary music scene, where traditional Estonian sounds often blend with modern genres.
Government Support: Public funding plays a significant role in supporting Estonia’s musical life through grants, festivals, and cultural programs, helping to ensure access to music and continued development of the musical scene.
Overall, Estonia has a rich and diverse musical life that brings together tradition, education, performance, and modern innovation, while remaining deeply integrated in the country’s national identity.
Where does the Estonian Music Information Centre fit into this structure?
The Estonian Music Information Centre is a hub within Estonia’s musical landscape, promoting and supporting Estonian music nationally and internationally. EMIC collects, archives, and shares information on Estonian composers, performers, and musical works, while providing access to music resources. Through its publishing activities, databases, newsletters, and international networks, it helps organise events, and connects musicians with global audiences. In this way, it contributes to the development and visibility of Estonia’s musical culture within the wider framework of education, performance, research, and cultural promotion.
Why is EMIK relevant for national and international target groups?
The Estonian Music Information Centre (EMIC) is a key resource for national and international audiences seeking to discover, access, and perform Estonian music. In Estonia, EMIC supports musicians, educators, researchers, and organisations by providing comprehensive information, promoting local talents, and fostering collaboration within the country’s music community. Internationally, EMIC serves as a gateway to Estonia’s unique musical heritage. Through its extensive databases, publications, and professional networks, EMIC helps raise awareness of Estonian music, facilitates cultural exchange, and promotes Estonian musicians worldwide. In this dual role, EMIC supports access to Estonian music and strengthens its visibility and reach internationally.
