Paul Hillier

Paul Hillier is from Dorset in England and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. His career has embraced singing, conducting, and writing about music. He began his career as a singer in the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral in London and later became a member of the Queen's Chapel Royal at Windsor Castle. In 1974 Paul Hillier made his formal concert debut at London’s Purcell Room. For many years he devoted his principal energies to the Hilliard Ensemble, of which he was co-founder (also in 1974) and musical director in performances of early music until 1990. During his tenure the group rose to international prominence, making tours throughout the world, with numerous television and radio appearances. Hillier also established the ensemble's summer festival and planned and directed over thirty recordings, many of which earned distinguished prizes.

Throughout the 1980's Paul Hillier increasingly divided his time between England and America: during 1980-1981 he taught at the University of California, Santa Cruz and in 1984 he was Copeland Colloquium Fellow at Amherst College in Massachusetts. In 1990 he moved to the USA, where he was Professor of Music at the University of California at Davis, until 1996. There he formed in 1989 Theatre of Voices, of which he is artistic director. Theatre of Voices now tours throughout North America and Europe and has an exclusive recording contract with Harmonia Mundi USA. In 1996 Paul Hillier was named Director of the Early Music Institute at Indiana University in Bloomington. He also gave master-classes in early music performances.

Paul Hillier's closer connection with Denmark also began in 1996 when he was first invited to work with Vocal Group Ars Nova, a collaboration which continues today. He was named chief conductor of Ars Nova in 2002. In September 2001, he took up the position as principal conductor and artistic director of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir - where his plans include a three-CD survey of contemporary Baltic choral music (the Baltic Sea not just the Baltic States), new works by Arvo Part and Helena Tulve, a Kaaija Saariaho retrospective, a multiple-concert Stravinsky project, and a production of Britten's three Church Parables.

A Grammy Award nominee and the recipient of two Edison Prizes, Paul Hillier is also active as a solo singer specializing in medieval lyrics, and as a frequent guest conductor with choirs around the world. His wide musical interests range from medieval to contemporary music and encompass singing and conducting, composing and writing.

More recently he has been Principal Conductor of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (2001-2007) and of Ars Nova Copenhagen (since 2003). His recordings, over a hundred CDs including seven solo recitals, have earned worldwide acclaim and won numerous prizes. His books about Arvo Pärt and Steve Reich, together with numerous anthologies of choral music, are published by Oxford University Press. In 2006 he was awarded an OBE for services to choral music. In 2007 he received the Order of the White Star of Estonia, and was awarded a Grammy for Best Choral Recording.

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Hilliard Ensemble

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