About
Biography
Birgit Sarrap, born Birgit Õigemeel on September 24, 1988, is a well-respected Estonian singer, known by the mononym Birgit. She started her musical journey as a choir singer with the Estonian Television children’s choir and honed her skills in violin at the Kohila Music School. Her career took off when she emerged as the winner of the first season of Estonian Idol, Eesti otsib superstaari. In 2021, she was one of the coaches of the show.
Birgit has a vivid record of album releases that map out her musical journey. Her self-titled debut album, “Birgit Õigemeel,” released in 2008, introduced her fresh and inviting voice to her fans. She quickly followed up with her second album “Ilus aeg” (“Beautiful Time”), encapsulating a spectrum of emotions. Her third album, “Teineteisel pool” (“On the Other Side”), arrived in 2009, showing her fans a deeper, more introspective side of her. A turning point in her career came with her 2013 album “Uus algus” (“New Beginning”), marking her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2018, she returned with her fifth album “V,” a testament to her evolution as an artist. The single “Silmapiir” was released from this album. With her band she released a new single in January 2020, “Sinuga”. With the swingers she released the song “See vana number”.
Adding to her list of accolades, Birgit became the first non-Italian to receive the “Golden Olive Branch” award at the “L’Olivo d’Oro” Italian culture festival in 2007. She represented Estonia at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Et uus saaks alguse” (“So There Could Be a New Beginning”), placing 20th in the finals. Despite unsuccessful attempts in 2008 and 2012, she remained undeterred and even participated in the 2002 contest in Tallinn as part of the choir during the interval act. She took part in Eesti Laul, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, again in 2019. Together with Tanja and The Swingers she sang “High Heels In The Neighbourhood” and reached a 6th place.
Outside her thriving musical career, Birgit has made a mark in the theater world, starring in several professional productions. At Theatrum theatre, she played Sylvia in Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona in 2007. Her theatre work also includes roles at the Vanemuine theatre, playing Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music and having supporting roles in the ethno musical Peko. From 2016, she began appearing as Sophie in the Estonian production of Mamma Mia and took up various roles in the 2022 musical “Ada,” based on the life of legendary Estonian actress Ada Ludver.
In her personal life, Birgit is married to her manager, Indrek Sarrap, and the couple has two children. They reside in Tallinn.
