Introduction
The mixed choir Hellermed brings together a circle of friends eager to sing, who enjoy performing the works of both Estonian and foreign composers. The works of Ara Bander-Nurmeots hold a firm place in the choir's repertoire. The choir has 23 members.
The choir's motto is: "It is boring to be without beauty, pitiful without singing..."
History
The mixed choir Hellermed grew out of the Kolepi Mixed Choir, which, with its founding date of 1870, is among the oldest mixed choirs in Estonia. Hellermed considers its own beginning to be November 2000.
The choir, which operates in Puiga, no longer has a connection with Kolepi. When the choir introduced itself further away from home, they were often asked, "You are from Kolepi, but what is your choir's name?" This gave birth to the name "Hellermed," which came from the members driving to rehearsals from different places like Vastseliina, Võru, Antsla, and other locations, being thus like "flakes" or hellermed (a poetic term for a flake or small particle).
The conductor of the mixed choir is Ara Bander-Nurmeots. Previously, the choir's conductors have included Ako Tamra, Sale Vare Mägi, Maria Kaldamäe, Aleksander Pettai, August Haagivang, Enn Hinn, August Hussar, Rudolf Mikson, Rein (Daniel) Roos, Voldemar Haidak, Elmar Arro, Jaan Aia, Jaan Jakobi p Kõiv, Peeter Eiche, and Jaan Jaani poeg Kõiv (the choir's founder in 1870).
The choir participates in the Võru County Song and Dance Festivals, the Võru Rural Municipality cultural event Vaba Rahva Laul (Song of the Free People), Christmas concerts in Orava, Niitsiku, and Võru, Võru County and South Estonian Senior (Grandma-Grandpa) Festivals, and the Võru Deanery Song Days. In addition, they perform jointly with the Võru Kannel Senior Men's Choir (conductor Andres Määr). They have also made concert trips, for example, to Georgia and Poland.
