The jury members for the pre-selection for Eesti Laul 2024 have been revealed.
Estonian broadcaster ERR have revealed the names of the 41 jury members who were part of the pre-selection for the 2024 edition of Eesti Laul. The jury members, made up of composers, artists, performers, producers, music lovers, teachers, radio and television professionals, listened to all 215 submissions, and have chosen the songs which will be advancing to the semi finals and grand final of Eesti Laul 2024.
Editor-in-chief of ERR’s experience programs, Karmel Killandi, has said of the pre-selection process: “This year’s jury is the largest in the history of Eesti Laul and represents the full palette of the Estonian music world. Together, the experience of Eesti Laul and Eurovision, the perspective of classical and pop music, producers, listeners and people whose work passes within music. We are extremely grateful to the jury for their work, because of it, there were definitely several days of good listening.”
The jury members who are singers, performers or conductors with wide musical experience include:
- Ott Lepland (Estonia 2012)
- Elina Nechayeva (Estonia 2018)
- Maria Listra
- Hanna-Liina Võsa
- Veronika Portsmuth
- Lauri Liiv
- Martin Trudnikov
- Anett Kulbin
- Yasmyn, Riivo Kallasmaa
- Sten Heinoja
The authors and producers on the jury panel are: Bert Brikenfeldt, Priit Pajusaar, Heini Vaikmaa and Maian-Anna Kärmas, whilst Airi Liiva, Margot Suur and Ivi Rausi are the music teachers on the jury panel. The jury members who are television and radio professionals include:
- Koit Raudsepp
- Rauno Märks
- Andres Aljaste
- Robert Kõrvits
- Andres Panksepp
- Sten Teppan
- Pille Minev
- Andres Oja
- Martin Korjus
- Tarmo Krimm
- Magnus Müürsepp
- Owe Petersell
- Juhan Paadam
- Rein Fuks
Vaiko Eplik, Danel Pandre and Ülar-Johannes Palm are representatives of various music organisations, whilst the music lovers of the jury panel are: Raivo Oja, Anna-Aurelia Kangur, Gerd Eston Sepp, Evert Poom, Jüri Nael and Alice Aleksandrini.
All of the 215 submissions were evaulated by the jury panel anonymously, without them knowing the artists of the authors of the songs. The 15 artists who have been chosen to participate in the semi final will be revealed on Monday 6th November on Ringvaat, The five acts who have been chosen to go directly to the final will also be announced on Ringvaat, but on Tuesday 7th November.
The semi final takes place on January 20th in Tartu, whilst the final, hosted by Tõnis Niinemetsa and Grete Kulla, takes place in Tallinn on February 17th. Eesti Laul 2023 winner Alika brought Estonia back to the Eurovision top 10 for the first time since 2018 as she finished in 8th place with 168 points at this years contest in Liverpool.
Are you excited for Eesti Laul 2024? Which Estonian acts would you like to see participating? Let us know in the comments section below!
Photo credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
