Silver Ainomäe was born in Tallinn, Estonia and migrated to Finland in 1990. He received a master’s degree at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, attended London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Razumovsky Academy. He has been awarded multiple prizes and awards at competitions worldwide including the Isang Yun, Lutoslawski, and Paulo competitions.
Silver has performed in more than 30 countries as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. He has performed concertos with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Finnish Radio Orchestra, Zürich Chamber Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Polish Radio Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta and Colorado Symphony. Principal cellist of the Colorado Symphony from 2009 to 2016, he now plays with the Minnesota Orchestra as the Associate Principal Cello. Silver has also appeared as guest principal with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Philharmonia Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
An active chamber musician and educator, he has performed and taught at the most prominent festivals in Finland, Estonia, Switzerland, Greece, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Silver enjoys hiking with his dogs, canoeing the Boundary Waters, and playing hockey in the Twin Cities area.
