Paul Mägi

Paul Mägi (b. 1953) is an Estonian conductor. He graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory in 1980 and Moscow Conservatory in 1984 (studying with Gennadi Rozhdestvensky). He founded the Eesti Raadio Kammerorkester (Estonian Radio Chamber Orchestra) in 1974 and Eesti Raadio Bigband in 1980.

Mägi had been conducting several orchestras, including Estonian Radio Chamber Orchestra (1978-84), Eesti Raadio Kergemuusikaorkester (1978-84), USSR Ministry of Culture State Symphony Orchestra (1984-88), Latvian National Symphony Orchestra (1990-94), and Uppsala Kammarorkester (since 2004).

He taught conducting at the Latvian Academy of Music in the 1990s and worked as a guest professor at the Kungliga Musikhögskolan I Stockholm. Among his students are Erki Pehk, Thomas Kemp (2), Aivo Välja, Olari Elts, and Mihhail Gerts.

Besides conducting, Paul Mägi is also a jazz violinist. He performed with The London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and several Estonian ensembles and rock groups, such as Hortus Musicus, Hõim and Ruja.