Tõnu Tepandi
Tõnu Tepandi is an Estonian actor, singer, teacher, theatre pedagogue, politician, and an Estonian social figure.
Education and work
From 1955 to 1966, Tõnu attended Tallinn 2. Secondary School. Afterward, he pursued his studies at Tallinn Conservatory from 1966 to 1970, specializing in acting at the Performing Arts Department.Following his education, he became an actor at Vanemuine Theater from 1970 to 1983. He then moved to Estonian National Youth Theater, where he worked as an actor from 1983 to 1987.
Since 1985, he has also been involved in teaching voice engineering at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, specifically at the School of Performing Arts. He became a professor in 2006.
In addition to his teaching career, Tõnu started working as a freelance actor in 1987. He also engaged with a humor organization called Aara from 1987 to 1992.
From 1994 to 1997, Tõnu served as the Deputy Chairman of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the Chairman of the Endowment of Applied Arts. He was also the Chairman of the Estonian Theater Association from 1994 to 2000.
Tõnu's academic involvement extended to the Viljandi Culture Academy, the Estonian Institute of Humanities, and the Estonian Academy of Arts, where he lectured from 1997 to 2008.
Tõnu chaired the jury for the Estonian Drama Festival from 1996 to 1998. Additionally, from 1992 to 1999, he served as a member of the Riigikogu, the Estonian Parliament.
Books
''Alguses on hääl''Music
Concerts:- "Mu kodu on punaste pihlade all" Vanemuine, 1977
- "Süda on mul vaevas" Vanemuine, 1980
- "Tepandi ja Vanapagana lood" Youth Theater, 1985
- "Lõppematu päev" 1971, by Virve Aruoja and Jaan Tooming, music by Tõnu Tepandi and Olav Ehala
Albums
- LP "Tõnu Tepandi laulud", 1982
- CD "Kõlakoda", 2003
Important roles
- Romulus – Friedrich Dürrenmatt "Romulus Suur", TRK Stage Artist, 1970
- Ullike – Evald Hermaküla "Üks ullike läks rändama", Vanemuine 1973
- Andrei Buslai – Aleksey Dudarev "Üle läve", Ugala theatre, 1984
- George – John Steinbeck "Hiirtest ja inimestest", Ugala theatre, 1993
- Horace Vandergelder – "Hallo, Dolly!" By Jerry Herman, Estonian National Opera, 1996
- Henry Higgins – George Bernard Shaw "Pygmalion", Ugala theatre, 2000
- Domenico Soriano – Eduardo De Filippo "Abielu Itaalia moodi", Ugala theatre, 2001
- Fellbom – Max Lundgren "Unistus Mallorcast", Ugala theatre, 2001
- Father and father-in-law – Vaino Vahing "Suvekool", Rakvere Theatre, 2003
- Juhan Luiga – Katri Aaslav-Tepandi and Vaino Vahing "Teatriromanss" National Opera of Estonia, 2004
- Olovernes – A. H. Tammsaare "Juudit", Estonian National Opera, 2006
- President Konstantin Päts – "President 1939" by Katri Aaslav-Tepandi and Tõnu Tepandi, Estonian National Opera, 2008