Helena Tulve’s composition “Sula” (Thaw) was awarded first prize at the International Rostrum of Composers in Paris which took place from June 7-11 2004.
First prize in the youth category was shared by a student of Helena Tulve – Santa Ratniece who studies composition at the Estonian Academy of Music, and a young Canadian composer Abigail Richardson. Another student of Helena Tulve, Tatjana Kozlova was awarded the third prize in the youth category. There were altogether 59 compositions from 29 countries participating at the Rostrum.
It was the first time for an Estonian composer to win this prestigious competition. Works by Lepo Sumera and Erkki-Sven Tüür have won second prizes at the Rostrum. But Mari Vihmand’s “Floreo” and Jüri Reinvere’s “Loodekaar” did win first prizes in the youth category in 1996 and 2000 respectively.
The winner of the Rostrum receives several commissions and his/her compositions will be broadcast at radio stations all over the world. Radio France has taken Helena Tulve’s “Sula” into the program of the contemporary music festival “Presences” in the next concert season.