The Foundation for Estonian Arts and Letters in the U.S. participates every April in the celebration of Estonian culture and arts.   It has been a long tradition. As a part of the program, a prize is awarded to a person who has earned special recognition in supporting and/or advancing Estonian cultural activities abroad. It is thus a pleasure to announce that the jury of the Foundation, Juta Kurman, Raul Pettai, Aire Salmre, has decided to give this year’s Culture Award to Mr. Andrejs Jansons, who has ably led the New York Estonian Womens’s Choir since 1995, bringing it to a high artistic level.  Mr. Jansons has achieved this despite the many difficulties when working with older ethnic groups where the pool of available singers is limited and rehearsals often infrequent.   Yet, Andrejs Jansons has succeeded admirably, earning the heartfelt gratitude of the Estonian community in the greater New York area. Andrejs Jansons has had a distinguished career in music that spans nearly a half century.  The cornerstone for it was laid in 1960 when Andrejs graduated with a Baccalau-reate degree in oboe from the Julliard School of Music in New York.   This was followed by a Masters Degree in conducting from the Manhattan School of Music (1973), and a Doctorate in composition from Rutgers U. in New Jersey (1986). A complete list of his achievements in his chosen field would be a long one indeed.  Still, allow me to name a few:   Music Director: New York Latvian Choir Fordham University choir Bergen Chorale NY Estonian Women’s Choir   Principal Guest Conductor: Liepaja Synphony Orchestra  Bronx Arts Orchestra in NY   Guest Conductor: Latvian National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra Latvian State Academic Choir  Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra Moscow Symphonietta Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Philharmonica Hungarica Song Festivals in San Francisco, Cleveland, Toronto and Riga.    As a composer, Mr. Jansons has written symphonic works as well as works for chamber  ensembles.  He prepared concert versions of several Latvian operas that were performed in Europe and in the U.S.   We should also note his activity as an instructor at Rutgers, Fordham U. and elsewhere, and his contribution as an oboist to Baltimore Symphony, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and to other renown ensembles. I trust that the above summary paints an ample picture of an exceptionally capable, hard working and   –   not to forget!   –   warm-hearted person.   My personal thanks to Andrejs Jansons for his dedication and for his help in keeping Estonian choral traditions alive here in New York.    Finally   –   congratulations for being the laureate of the Culture Award of 2012.   Raul Pettai