Tiit Helimets was born in Viljandi, Estonia, and trained at the Tallinn Ballet School. He joined the San Francisco Ballet as a principal dancer in 2005 where he continues to dance today. He has also performed with the Estonian National Ballet and the Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Tiit joined the Break Free on Wings of Music Project during the pandemic in 2021. He choreographed the ballet film “Wings of Music” which had its world premiere film screening at the Treasure Island World’s Fair Anniversary Celebrations on April 16, 2022 at Treasure Island Museum.
h2>The Piano Connection
In descending chronological order
| Description | Generation | Date | Place | People |
| “Wings of Music” Ballet Film produced with cello “Stella” | 2nd Gen to Skywalker Sound Boesendorfer and “Stella” cello | April 3, 2022 | Metropolitan Club, San Francisco | Cello: Jonah Kim, Dancer/Choreographers: Tiit Jelimets and Julia Rowe, Videographer: Dan Foldes, Producer: Karen Earle Lile |
| Julia and Tiit finish choreography for ballet film to “Break Free on Wings of Music” cello/piano recording | 2nd gen Steinway 161912 and “Stella” cello | June 17, 2021 | San Francisco | Choreographers: Tiit Helimets and Julia Rowe |
| “Break Free on Wings of Music” cello solo scratch track recording Session | 2st Gen to Steinway 161912 | May 17, 2021 | San Francisco | Cellist: Jonah Kim |
| Karen Lile writes story for Raven King Ballet in prose. Sends to Jonah for Julia. | 2nd Gen to Steinways 161912 | April 30, 2021 | Piano Finders East, El Cerrito | Karen Earle Lile |
| “Break Free on Wings of Music” cello part arranged on “Stella” built for Jonah Kim by Haide Lin in 2016 paired with 1904 bow by Jules Fétique in Paris | 2st Gen to Steinway 161912 and “Stella” cello | April 30, 2021 | San Francisco | Cello Arranger: Jonah Kim |
| Karen Lile commissions Jonah Kim to arrange “Break Free on Wings of Music” for cello solo | n/a | April 11, 2021 | San Francisco | Karen Lile, Jonah Kim |
| “Break Free on Wings of Music” piano scratch track recording session | 1st gen to Steinway 161912 | March 19, 2021 | Piano Finders East | Kendall Ross Bean |
| “Break Free on Wings of Music” composed on 1914 Steinway 161912, 1909 Steinway 136187 and Steinway 184229 rebuilt by Piano Finders | 1st Gen to Steinways 161912, 136187, 184229 | March 19, 2021 | Piano Finders West | Kendall Ross Bean |
| Sharon Litsky introduces Karen Lile to Jonah Kim and Julia Rowe | n/a | November 5, 2020 | Metropolitan Club via Zoom during pandemic lockdown | Sharon Litsky, Karen Earle Lile, Jonah Kim, Julia Rowe |
| ”Break Free on Wings of Music” commissioned by Oakland Symphony | n/a | August 12, 2020 | Oakland, CA | Composer: Kendall Ross Bean, Librettist: Karen Earle Lile |
1st Generation refers to how close the Relationship is to featured pianos. Cello is also significant instrument in this chronology.
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