Sten Lassmann (Estonia)

Sten Lassmann graduated as a pianist from Tallinn Music High School in 2001 with Ell Saviauk, Ira Floss, and Ivari Ilja. He continued his piano studies at the Estonian Academy of Music with Ivari Ilja, receiving Bachelor’s Degree in 2005 and a Master’s Degree in 2007. In 2003/2004, Lassmann studied as an exchange student at the Paris Conservatoire (Conservatoire National Superiéur de Musique et de Danse de Paris) in the class of Birgitte Engerer. In 2005-2008, Lassmann studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Ian Fountain, receiving a Master`s Degree. In 2008, he started his Ph.D. studies at the same academy. He has taken part in master courses of Michael Roll, Boris Berman, Konstantin Lifschitz, Alexander Satz, Howard Shelly, and Maxim Vengerov.

Since September 2007, Sten Lassmann works as a lecturer at the piano department of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Sten Lassmann has gained recognition at several competitions, both national and international: a first diploma from the international competition for young pianists in Usti nad Labem (1997), fourth and third prize at the International Competition of European Piano Teachers Association (1999, 2001) in Croatia. In 2002, Lassmann was awarded the first prize at the national piano competition in Tallinn and with two special prizes at the contest festival “Con Brio”. In 2006, he won the third prize at the Tallinn International Piano Competition. Lassmann has also taken part in chamber music competitions: second prize with violinist Mikk Murdvee and cellist Kristjan Saar at the Jurmala competition in Latvia (2000) and in 2003, the finalist diploma at Brahms Competition in Gdansk as a member of the piano trio Fratres.

Sten Lassmann has performed and held recitals in Estonia and elsewhere in Europe, Russia, and Canada. As a soloist, he has performed with several symphony orchestras such as Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra, Pärnu City Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, NYYD Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, and Tallinn Music High School’s Symphony Orchestra. He has collaborated with conductors like Nikolai Aleksejev, Jüri Alperten, Lauri Sirp, Tõnu Kaljuste, Paul Mägi, Olari Elts, Toomas Kapten, Mikk Murdvee, Mihhail Gerts and Risto Joost.

In 2011, the 14th Heino Eller Music Prize was ascribed to pianist Sten Lassmann for the performances and recordings of Heino Eller’s piano music in 2008–2011. He has been awarded the Annual Prize of the Endowment for Music of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (2015).

In Sten Lassmann's performance, one can find a paradox – his economic, rational, and well-disciplined style is fulfilled with sudden power of expression. Estonian piano music has got another interesting personality.