In spring 2024, the renowned Estonian-Canadian jazz musician and educator as well as founder of the jazz department at Montréal’s McGill University, celebrated his 95th birthday. Estonian Music Week (a project of VEMU) dedicated one of Kristjan Randalu’s concerts, which took place in October in Hamilton, Toronto, and Ottawa, to this occasion.
The celebrant himself was present at the concert at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Ottawa to receive birthday wishes at the post-performance reception from colleagues, family members, and the Estonian community. This musical encounter was a worthy way to recognize the contributions of the celebrant to the development of jazz in Canada, and in elevating self-awareness in the Estonian community. The Estonian Embassy in Ottawa and the Ottawa Estonian Society helped organize the event.