Accompanists of the Competition 2023:

Ashot Drnayan-Babrouski

obtained his Master’s and Bachelor’s degree at the Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno in 2009. His speciality was music art. Before that, he graduated from Minsk State College of the Arts in 2002 as a pianist.

Ashot has worked at the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus as a vocal accompanist and as a member of the symphonic orchestra. Also, he has worked at the Belarusian State Academy of Music and at Svisloch School of the Arts as a piano teacher and a concertmaster. His opera repertoire is wide and includes all well know operas, but also Prima la Musica by Salieri, The Impresario by Mozart, Rita by Donizetti, La voix humaine by Francis Poulenc, Stabat Mater by G. Pergolesi, Snegurochka by Rimsky-Korsakov, and others.

Since March 2015 Ashot has worked for 3 years in the Estonian National Opera as a vocal accompanist and pianist and from the season 2018/19, he is a vocal accompanist in Wroclaw Opera in Poland. 
Awards – Best accompanist diploma in the 11th International Klaudia Taev Competition in Estonia (2019)

Ērika Millere

is a pianist and accompanist.
She was born in Rezekne, Latvia, where she commenced her musical education. In 2010 graduated from Vitols Latvian Academy of Music with a bachelor’s degree as a solo pianist and in 2014 with a master’s degree in piano accompaniment.
Since 2010 rehearsal pianist, and repetiteur at Latvian National Opera and Ballet Theatre. 2010-2018 worked at Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music as an accompanist in the vocal department.
2010 – 2014 worked with vocal teacher Anita Garanča. She has supplemented her studies with Walter Moore (USA), Philip Moll (Germany), A. Bondurjansky(Ukraine) and A. Novosovska (Poland) in chamber music and accompaniment.
E. Millere actively performs concerts with opera soloists and makes recordings for the Radio 3 Klasika funds.
Best accompanist diploma in the 9th and 10th International Klaudia Taev Competition for opera singers 2015, 2017, Pärnu.
Best accompanist diploma in the 6th Internacional Jazeps Vitols Singing Competition 2015, Riga

Together with baritone Rihards Millers, Nominee of the Great Music Award in Latvia 2022, “for outstanding interpretation” of the vocal song cycle “Winterreise” by F. Schubert.

Piia Paemurru

is one of the most valued ensemble partners in Estonia, especially for opera singers, but her concert activities have brought her together with many outstanding musicians, such as Virgilijus Noreika, Jaakko Ryhänen, and numerous best Estonian singers and instrumentalists.

Piia Paemurru graduated from Tallinn Conservatory’s master’s program with Prof. Laine Mets in 1999 and has been working as a piano accompanist in the singing department of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater since 1986. Since 2016, she has worked as an accompanist in the Theatre Vanemuine. She has also participated as a pianist in many masterclasses at Bavarian Opera Academy and recitals in Germany.

Piia Paemurru has received the special prize for “the best accompanist” at several singing competitions, including five times at the Klaudia Taev Competition for young opera singers.

Jaanika Rand-Sirp

has graduated from the piano class of Prof. L. Mets at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 1996. In 2002 she defended there also her Master’s as an accompanist. She is working as a teacher of the chamber ensemble at the H. Eller Tartu Music School since 1996. From 1996 – 2013 she worked at Theatre Vanemuine as the executive pianist and vocal coach and after that since 2013, Jaanika Rand-Sirp is the pianist and vocal coach at the National Opera Estonia. 

In 2003 she received a scholarship from the International Association of Richard Wagner Societies. Jaanika Rand-Sirp is an active chamber musician and a musical partner to many singers and instrumentalists. She has been the pianist in the Klaudia Taev Competition since 2013 and got the special prize as the best accompanist of the Klaudia Taev Competition for opera singers in 2021.


Conditions for using a pianist provided by the Competition

  • The use of a pianist for the live audition in the First round costs 15-40 EUR, if it is not organized differently. 
  • The pianist is provided FREE of charge for up to 20 minutes of preparation for the 2nd and 3rd rounds and up to 30 minutes for the 4th round. 
  • Extra rehearsal time (also for the final round) can be arranged by personal agreement with a pianist for 10 EUR per 10 minutes. 
  • Participants themselves must provide the pianist with all music needed! Be ready to send scores if asked at least 2 weeks before the competition round.
  • Participants are allowed to bring their own pianist.