Holger Marjamaa

Biography

Holger Marjamaa was born (September 27, 1992) in Tallinn, Estonia and raised in a musical family. As a child prodigy, he started to imitate and sing classical jazz compositions which his older brother or mother were practicing, soon enough he was playing these piano pieces on the piano by ear, of course with an improvisational extra.

His studies began at the age of 6, he attended Tallinn Music High School where he studied classical piano, and at the age of 7 he started taking private jazz piano and drum lessons. He performed for the first time at the Estonian National Concert Hall at the age of 7 and played his first jazz gig at the age of 8. At the age of 12, Holger had an opportunity to receive private lessons from David Kikoski, who had a big influence on him. After graduating he went on to study in Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (majoring classical piano, jazz piano and composition) Sibelius Academy, majoring in Jazz Piano and Manhattan School of Music, majoring in Jazz Piano.

With a busy schedule, Marjamaa was mainly touring with a Grammy Award Winning trumpeter Chris Botti (2019-2023). Marjamaa's solo career has taken off in a fast tempo and he gives many solo concerts all over the world, also he tours regularly with his European trio (Jussi Lehtonen (dr) Heikko Remmel (b) and with his American Trio (Lee Pearson II (dr) Alex Claffy (b))

He has performed and appeared on records with Lee Ritenour, Chris Botti Dennis Chambers, Randy Brecker, Miguel Zenon, Lizz Wright, David Kikoski, Lonnie Liston Smith, John Riley, Chad Lefkowitz - Brown, Benny Benack III, Arturo Sandoval, Steve Wilson, Jukkis Uotila, Paul Bollenback, Ben Wolfe, Mark Gross, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and many more.

Holger holds many awards in both jazz and classical piano performance, including: Grand Prix at the XXIV International Jazz Piano Competition (Vilnius, Lithuania; 2013); second prize at the II International Tallinn Piano Competition (Tallinn, Estonia; 2011). Marjamaa was also a semi-finalist in the 2018 Thelonious Monk Jazz Piano Competition (since 2019 re- named Herbie Hancock Jazz Piano Competition). the Young Estonian Jazz Talent Award (Tallinn, Estonia; 2013) and a Jazz Musician of the Year Award (Estonia, Tallinn, 2021). He has performed across the United States, Europe and Asia, venues and festivals as Seoul Jazz Festival (2023) Monterey Jazz Festival, Dallas Symphony, Atlanta Symphony Hall, Sony Hall, Lincoln Center (Dizzy's Club), Mezzrow Jazz Club, Smalls Jazz Club, Blue Note Tokyo, Blue Note New York (2019-2023), Blue Note Beijing, Blue Note Jazz Cruise, Blue Note Shanghai etc.

Marjamaa had an opportunity to perform for the President of Estonia, Mr Toomas Hendrik Ilves (New York, 2015) and in 2020 Decemeber for the President Alar Karis, who went to listen Holger with Chris Botti at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York.

Marjamaa has two solo albums and has appeared on more than 30 albums as a guest or as a sideman.

Marjamaa lives in New York City since 2015. A prodigy all grown up, Marjamaa is now one of the highest in-demand pianists in United States, Europe and Asia.

"I could listen to Holger all day everyday" - David Foster (after Holger's performance with Chris Botti at the Blue Note New York, 2022)