Erik Rauk (b. 2003) started his musical studies at seven years old in Rae Huvialakool, with violin as the main instrument. The first attempts to write melodies began a year later when he developed an interest in improvising. As determination grew, his violin and solfège teacher recommended that he went to study at Tallinn Music High School. There he met his new violin teacher, Niina Murdvee, who became one of the most important people in Erik’s journey in music. At Tallinn Music High School, music became the life-style—practicing the instrument, violin lessons, attempts at composing, and studying music theory. He got to know the II Viennese School which affected him the most. So began the experimenting with dodecaphony, serialism, and modern polyphony. Erik has taken part in multiple EHL’s Young Composer competitions where he has won the III, II, and I prize. He has also gotten Tartu University Foundation’s Estonian Higher Education Furtherance Scholarship. Right now, he is studying at Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with prof. René Eespere.
Photo: Lisanne Rull
