Liisa Hõbepappel (born 1994) is an Estonian composer whose music is characterized by exquisite sense for sound colour and by deteremined quest for new means of expression.  Her music is often bright and mosaic-like, and focuses on intricate details that come together in an interwoven web of meanings. Her works have been compared to nuanced graphic art. 

In recent years, Hõbepappel has devoted herself to opera. During her residency at Forum Neue Kunst in Northern Germany (2023/2024), she composed the family opera Der kleine Prinz oder seine erste Reise in die Herzen (libretto: Nils Braun). Returning to Estonia, she premiered her chamber opera Põrmuline / The Dustborn in collaboration with Ensemble U:, a work inspired by psychology and folklore.

Hõbepappel is the winner of the international Discovering Young Composers of Europe (DYCE) competition (2022) in her region. The commission awarded to her was performed in 2023 by four ensembles over Europe: Cikada Ensemble (Norway), Ensemble U: (Estonia), Divertimento Ensemble (Italy), and Taller Sonoro (Spain). The same work earned second place in the under-30 category at the International Rostrum of Composers and was included in its list of recommended works.

Her music has been performed by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, which premiered her piece And Now Is Still Now (conducted by Clement Power), as well as by Arditti Quartet, ensembles such as Fractales (Belgium), L’Arsenale (Italy), the Tallinn New Music Ensemble, and the Estonian National Male Choir. She has also collaborated with notable Estonian musicians, including Trio 95’, clarinetist Taavi Orro, pianist Sten Heinoja, organist Kadri Toomoja, and singer Iris Oja. Her work First Step, Last White was among the 13 nominees for Estonia’s largest composition award, the LHV Au-tasu (2021). In 2020, she received the Artur Lemba Stipend, given to promising young Estonian composers.

Hõbepappel began her composition studies in 2014 at the Heino Eller Music School under Alo Põldmäe and Katrin Aller. She went on to graduate cum laude in composition at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2021 under Professor Toivo Tulev, and continues her master’s studies there with Toivo Tulev and Helena Tulve. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication from the University of Tartu.