About Us
The ensemble has been active since 2020 and is made up of four outstanding Estonian percussionists: Karl Johann Lattikas, Lauri Metsvahi, Tiit Joamets and Tanel-Eiko Novikov. The quartet’s repertoire is very broad, ranging from good old percussion classics to renowned pieces from baroque to rock.
Percussion music is by its very nature very varied and, in a sense, their range of sound is endless. The works performed with percussion instruments are already very different because each piece has its own instrumentation. This music is thus varied not only visually, but also attractive and engaging sonically, ranging from virtuosic fast rhythmic runs on drums to beautifully soft meditative sounds on marimba and vibraphone, to describe just a small part of the percussion universe.
The ensemble has also set itself the goal of enriching percussion repertoire. To this end, they collaborate with Estonian composers and commission new works from them. During the short period of its existence, composers Pärt Uusberg, Alisson Kruusmaa, Robert Jürjendal, Siim Aimla and Kristjan Randalu have written new pieces for the ensemble. The members of the ensemble are not only arrangers, but also compose when necessary.
The quartet’s first concerts, entitled “The Beauty of the Beat”, took place in the autumn of 2021, in collaboration with Eesti Kontsert, with performances at Pärnu Concert Hall and Estonia Concert Hall (including the premiere of Pärt Uusberg’s “Sina …” and music by Aurél Holló, David Hildebrandt, Thierry De Mey, Pius Cheung, Nebojša Jovan Živković, Peter Martin, Minoru Miki, Lauri Metsvahi and Argo Vals). In the late summer of 2022, they played at the Buxtehude International Music Festival in Germany. In 2023, the Estonian Percussion Group was selected for a two-year instrumental ensemble residency of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.
Karl Johann Lattikas
Acclaimed chamber and orchestra musician. Earned his bachelor’s degree in Finland and a master’s degree in Germany. Played with ensembles and orchestras all over the world. Currently participating frequently in top Estonian orchestras, including the Estonian Sinfonietta and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.
Lauri Metsvahi
Sought-after musician who studied and lived in Stockholm, Sweden where he had the honour to regularly work in orchestras such as The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and The Swedish Radio Orchestra among many others. He has played in distinguished Estonian groups like The Estonian Festival Orchestra and the percussion ensemble PaukenfEst. Lauri is a member the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra since 2019.
Tanel-Eiko Novikov
Acclaimed soloist and chamber musician who gained wider recognition after winning the television competition “Classical Stars 2018” and representing Estonia at Eurovision Young Musicians. He’s had success at prestigious competitions such as the 7th World Marimba Competition and 19th Italy Percussion Competition, performed as a soloist in the Mariinsky Theatre concert hall and the Henry Crown Hall, and played in front of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra among others. Yamaha artist since 2023.
Tiit Joamets
Percussionist from Tartu who plays in various orchestras and teaches percussion at MUBA. In addition, he also participates in the work of various ensembles, where he plays the vibraphone as much as possible. Tiit has studied percussion at the Heino Eller Tartu Music College, the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp (bachelor) and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater (master cum laude).