The Estonian accordionist, Tiit Kalluste, has been presented an international merit award by the International Confederation of Accordionists.
On 13 October, Kalluste played a concert with his quintet at the Jazzkaar jazz festival, held at the Kumu Art Museum in Tallinn. At the end of the concert, the general secretary of the confederation, Kimmo Mattila, presented Kalluste the award for his notable career as an accordionist and a positive cooperation with the International Confederation of Accordionists.
“I very much like Tiit Kalluste’s music and his wonderful way of accordion playing,” Mattila said in a statement. “He has created a personal style combining traditional jazz and contemporary Nordic music.”
Kalluste was the president of the Estonian Accordionists’ Union from 1999 to 2011 and during this time the association was appointed as a Premiere Voting Member of the confederation.
The Merit Award is the highest recognition of the international accordion movement, according to the confederation. It is awarded to one or two distinguished musicians each year, who have made an exceptional career with the accordion. This year, the Merit Award was also awarded to Wang Congyu from China.
The International Confederation of Accordionists (Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes) is a worldwide organisation consisting of 43 member organisations around the world. It founded in 1935 and is one of the oldest international music organisations in the world.
Cover: Tiit Kalluste. Photo by Sohvi Viik.
