Henri Christofer Aavik

Estonian-born conductor Henri Christofer Aavik is a 2nd prize winner of the 5th E. Svetlanov Int. Competition (2022) and a 1st prize winner of the 8th International J. Panula Competition (2021).

The recent seasons saw Aavik’s debuts with the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Bergische Symphoniker, and Israel Camerata Jerusalem. In September 2024 he took up the position of Chief Conductor of the Pärnu City Orchestra (Estonia). Since 2020 he has appeared as a regular guest at the Estonian National Opera.

At an early age, Aavik attended J. Panula’s conducting classes in Finland. Later he studied in Germany at the HfM Franz Liszt Weimar with N. Pasquet and E. Wycik, in Switzerland at the ZHdK with Johannes Schlaefli, and in the National Master’s programme of the conservatories in Amsterdam and The Hague with Jac van Steen, Ed Spanjaard, and K. Montgomery. He has been mentored by D. Gatti, P. Järvi, P. Baleff, R. Bohn, and B. Weil.