The music lives on: Uno Kook’s Estonia Orkester manuscripts

VINCENT TEETSOV

On October 3rd, after moving through various homes and storage units for safe-keeping over the years, the handwritten arrangements of Estonia Orkester’s conductor, Uno Kook, were brought out of an office unit in Leaside, Toronto.

From here, they were brought to the archive of VEMU (the Museum of Estonians Abroad) at Tartu College, to hold onto the legacy of this historic Estonian- Canadian orchestra.

Estonia Orkester was founded in 1957 when the woodwind ensemble of Toronto Eesti Meeskoor (Estonian Male Choir) sensed the demand for classical music performances and formed their own separate group. For that endeavour, they sought Uno Kook (born in Tartu on February 4th, 1919), an Assistant Director for Toronto Eesti Meeskoor, a choral conductor, and an excellent French horn player.

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Photo: Estonia Orkester archive