Prizewinner of the Malko Conducting Competition 2015 and Jorma Panula Conducting Competition 2012, Risto Joost (b. 1980) has gained widespread recognition for his work both in the opera pit and on concert stage. His repertoire ranges from baroque to the most challenging works of contemporary composers. Since 2009 Joost is the conductor in residence of the Estonian National Opera, chief conductor of the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra from 2013, artistic director of the MDR Leipzig Radio Choir from 2015/16 and from spring 2016 artistic director of Tallinn Philharmonic Society and Birgitta Festival. Within short time Risto Joost has conducted many internationally acclaimed orchestras and worked with a number of esteemed vocal ensembles.
Risto Joost has studied orchestral and choral conducting as well as singing at the Estonian Academy of Music and received further training at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. In 2008, Risto Joost graduated from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm with a Masters Degree, majoring in orchestral conducting with Jorma Panula.