Early Life
Rudolf Tobias was born in Käina Parish on the island of Hiiumaa. He was the son of a parish clerk. Tobias received his first musical training from his father. Under his father’s tutelage, he began musical training at an early age and composing his first composition exercises from 1882 when he was 9 years old. In 1885 he entered the Haapsalu school and studied piano under Catharina von Gernet, a local pianist. After he graduated, Tobias moved with his parents to Kullamaa, where his father had become the village's parish clerk. In 1889 Tobias entered Tallinn Nicolai High School, where he passed the tutor’s exam and studied both organ and music theory with Ernst Reinicke, the Tallinn Cathedral organist.
In 1893 Tobias furthered his studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he studied organ with Louis Homilius and composition with Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov. in 1897 Tobias graduated from conservatory with two special subjects, presenting as his graduate work the cantata “Johannes Damascenus”. After graduation Tobias worked as organist and choir conductor of the St. Petersburg Estonian St. John’s church from 1898 to 1904. During this time he also performed there his own compositions.
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