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Kiri-uu is a small choir that was formed in 1986 in Sydney by first-generation expatriates Anni Meister and Olev Muska. The choir was established to explore modern Estonian folk song, particularly the works of neoclassically-influenced composer Veljo Tormis. The name 'Kiri-uu' originates from Tormis's arrangement of a lament in the traditional Estonian swing song 'The swing yearns for gifts,' where he invented the word after much effort to find a suitable term from folklore. In 1989, Kiri-uu embarked on an impressive concert tour of (Soviet) Estonia, culminating in a 'standing room only' closing performance in Tallinn, where Tormis greeted the choir on stage, declaring, “Estonia has adopted you!” After the choir disbanded in 1990, Kiri-uu evolved into a 'desktop a cappella' duo consisting of Coralie Joyce and Olev, and currently serves as a platform for Olev’s multimedia and remix projects. Veljo Tormis's profound cultural intuition through music continues to inspire Kiri-uu and many others, shining brightly beyond his lifetime.

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