Pianist and composer Artur Lemba (1885–1963) belonged to the first generation of professional Estonian musicians who received their education at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Lemba’s studies progressed brilliantly—he graduated in 1908 with a gold medal in piano and a silver medal in composition. As the top graduate in piano performance, he was awarded the prestigious Rubinstein Prize, which included a concert grand piano from the Schröder company.

At the graduation ceremony, Lemba performed his Piano Concerto No. 1 (1st version from 1905) to great acclaim. The piece remains one of his most frequently performed works to this day. That same year, he also completed his Symphony No. 1, which holds the distinction of being the first symphony in Estonian music history.

The newly graduated Lemba was invited to join the same conservatory as a piano instructor (1908–1920, and from 1915 as professor), where he quickly became a highly respected pedagogue. His career as a pianist also flourished—concert reviews regularly mentioned full halls and enthusiastic receptions. In 1910, he took part in the Anton Rubinstein International Piano Competition, reaching the finals alongside renowned pianists such as Artur Rubinstein and Edwin Fischer.

In 1920, Lemba returned to Estonia. From 1920 to 1963, he worked as a piano teacher at the Tallinn Conservatory, becoming the most esteemed piano pedagogue of the interwar Republic of Estonia and the most influential and recognized Estonian pianist of that era.

Lemba continued performing actively, including appearances abroad—in cities such as St. Petersburg, Riga, Moscow, Odessa, Budapest, Helsinki, and Stockholm. He maintained excellent pianistic form into old age, even performing his Piano Concerto No. 5 as a soloist at his 75th jubilee concert.