August Topman
August Topman (10 July 1882 – 8 September 1968) was an Estonian organist and music teacher. He was born in Raikküla, in the Governorate of Estonia of the Russian Empire, now in Rapla County, Estonia, and died in Tallinn. In 1957 he was named an Honoured Artist of the Estonian SSR.
Topman graduated from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in 1904, studying organ with Ludwig Homilius. He completed composition studies there in 1911 with Anatoly Lyadov and Jāzeps Vītols, while also studying conducting with Nikolai Tcherepnin.
From 1904 to 1919, he served as organist at St. John's Church in Tallinn. He was also choirmaster and conductor at the Estonia Opera Theatre from 1913 to 1921. His teaching posts included Alice Segal's private music school from 1907 to 1916, the Nicholas I Gymnasium from 1908 to 1917, the Tallinn Men's Commercial School from 1910 to 1919, the Tallinn Teachers' Seminary from 1919 to 1923, and the Second Tallinn Girls' Gymnasium from 1924 to 1931.
Beginning in 1904, Topman directed several choirs. He led the mixed choir of the Music Department of the Estonia Theatre from 1911 to 1924 and the choir of the Tallinn Men's Singing Society from 1927 to 1936.
In 1919, he was among the organisers and first teachers of the Tallinn Conservatory. He became a professor in 1925 and remained in that post until 1950. His students included Edgar Arro, Villem Kapp, Hugo Lepnurm and Veljo Tormis.
Topman chaired the Estonian Singers' Union from 1927 to 1929. He lectured on church music at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Tartu and wrote articles on music. His compositions include two cantatas, choral and solo songs, and music for piano and harmonium. His memoirs were published in 1972. He was buried at Forest Cemetery.