Estonian conductor Andres Kaljuste has enjoyed several debuts during the 2016/17 season with orchestras including Helsinki Philharmonic, Tampere Philharmonic, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Oulu Sinfonia, Pori Sinfonietta and St. Michael Strings. Recently he stepped in at very short notice to conduct Lahti Sinfonia in a programme of Vaughan Williams, Barber and Dutilleux, to critical acclaim. The last season also included programmes of opera, film and contemporary music, including Finnish premiere of Arvo Pärt's “Greater Antiphons”, as well as conducting the contemporary composers' showcase during Avanti! XXXI Summer Sounds Festival.

Kaljuste has recently completed his orchestral conducting masters degree at the Sibelius Academy. He has also been the guest-principal viola of the Helsinki Philharmonic during the past three seasons.

Kaljuste previously studied violin at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and later Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin. A two-year scholarship followed with the Academy of Rundfunk- Sinfonieorchester Berlin, after which he went on to pursue a busy freelance career working with top UK orchestras such as the RPO, the Philharmonia and as guest concertmaster of Oulu Sinfonia, Finland. 

He has worked at Lilla Akademien, recognised as one of the top music schools in Scandinavia, as conductor of the school's string orchestras and ensembles while also teaching violin and viola. 

As a soloist, Kaljuste has appeared with Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Verona Philharmonic, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Belgrade Strings, Vanemuise Symphony Orchestra and made his debut at Berlin's Konzerthaus in 2010 with Cappella Academica, playing the Brahms violin concerto.