After spending his childhood in Luxembourg and Germany, Finnish composer Joel Jarventausta (b. 1995) is currently studying towards a PhD in Composition under the supervision of Sir Prof. George Benjamin at King’s College London, supported by the Arts & Humanities Scholarship. Joel holds a Masters in Composition with 1st class Distinction from the Royal College of Music where he was a fully supported Scholar. He also holds a BA in Music with 1st class honours from the University of York. Joel has completed an Erasmus exchange at the Sibelius Academy in Finland, studying under Prof. Veli-Matti Puumala. In the past he has studied under Dr. Dai Fujikura, Dr. Martin Suckling also receiving tuition from Colin Matthews and Oliver Knussen.

In February 2019, Joel received 1st Prize in the Île de Créations Composition Competition with his piece Ripped Tapestry, which was subsequently performed several times by Orchestre National d’Île de France, conducted by Antony Hermus, including at the Philharmonie de Paris. More recently, Massahumu (co-written with four other Finnish composers) received its premiere by the Finnish National Opera orchestra and chorus, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. The piece was commissioned for Salonen’s 60th birthday concert, opening the Helsinki Festival. Joel is currently writing a new 10-minute commission for the London Symphony Orchestra to be premiered in 2020/21 at the Barbican, London as part of the LSO's 2018 Panufnik Scheme.

Joel is the the youngest member of the Society of Finnish Composers and his works so far have been performed at various venues and festivals in UK, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Bulgaria and USA.

Commissioned with support from the Susan Bradshaw Composers' Fund.

www.joeljarventausta.com | Follow Joel on Twitter, Instagram and SoundCloud.