Ott Ajaots wins Tiit Paulus young guitarist award

Guitarist Ott Ajaots has won the Tiit Paulus young guitarist award, which was presented on Friday at the Viljandi Guitar Festival, ERR reported. The jury praised his mature and creative style.

Ajaots graduated with distinction in 2025 from the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy, where he studied guitar in the rhythmic music programme with Marek Talts and Andre Maaker. He is now studying in the jazz department of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under guitarist Jaak Sooäär.

He works as both a guitarist and a bass guitarist and has played on recordings by several artists. His own music combines jazz, rock and ambient sounds. Ajaots plans to use the prize money to develop and release his work. He said he has arranged his music for a trio and hopes to expand the lineup in the near future.

The award also gives Ajaots the opportunity to perform at the 2027 Viljandi Guitar Festival. It includes guitar maintenance from Sinisalu Guitars, two performances in the Estonian Jazz Union programme and 1,500 euros from the union in cooperation with the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

The award is presented each autumn to recognise outstanding young Estonian musicians and encourage their musical development and further guitar studies.