Joel Järventausta

Joel Jarventausta

Joel Järventausta (b. 1995) is a Finnish composer based in Finland and the United Kingdom. He has recently submitted his PhD in Composition at King’s College London, where he studied with Sir Prof. George Benjamin and Prof. Silvina Milstein, supported by the Arts & Humanities Scholarship. In the coming year, he will be working on several commissions including a choral work for Helsinki Chamber Choir, an orchestral work for Jyväskylä Sinfonia and a piano trio for Kamarikesä-festival.

In spring 2022, London Symphony Orchestra conducted by François-Xavier Roth premiered Sunfall at the Barbican in London and took the work on tour to Konzerthaus Dortmund, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Musikkens Hus Aalborg. Recent commissions include a song cycle Autumn Songs for Maria Turunen and Armaan Madar; a solo piano work Snowscapes for Allison Wang; a chamber work Pilgrim for Philharmonia Orchestra supported by Royal Philharmonic Society and commercially released by NMC Recordings in 2022; a quintet Songs of Empty Landscapes for Uusinta Ensemble; and a string quartet On Blue for Kreutzer Quartet.

In February 2019, Joel received 1st Prize in the 7th Edition of 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 Philharmonie de Paris. Following this, a 30-minute Composer Portrait of Joel was broadcast on France Musique. Ripped Tapestry received its Finnish premiere by Jyväskylä Sinfonia, conducted by Ruut Kiiski in September 2021.

2018 saw the premiere Massahumu (co-written with four other Finnish composers) 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 Juhlaviikot (Helsinki Festival).

In 2017 Stonewalls for chamber orchestra was premiered by Royal Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Lars Vogt and subsequently awarded 3rd prize in their 2017 Composition Competition. Cantus for orchestra received its premiere by the RCM Philharmonic under the baton of Martin André, as the winner of the RCM Concerto Competition. Cantus also received a second performance by Bergen Philharmonic Youth Orchestra conducted by Kjell Seim at UNM Festival 2018 at Grieghallen in Bergen. Joel participated in the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme Composition Course 2017 which culminated into a performance of Tumma at Aldeburgh Festival 2018.

His works so far have been performed in various venues and festivals in UK, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Canada and USA. In 2016, Joel was granted a membership as one the youngest ever members of the Society of Finnish Composers (Suomen Säveltäjät ry). He 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 with Prof. Veli-Matti Puumala. In the past he has studied with Dr. Dai Fujikura, also receiving tuition from Unsuk Chin, Colin Matthews, Michael Gandolfi and Oliver Knussen. He spent his childhood in Germany and Luxembourg.

Biography

Joel Järventausta (b. 1995) is a Finnish composer based in Finland and the United Kingdom. He has recently submitted his PhD in Composition at King’s College London, where he studied with Sir Prof. George Benjamin and Prof. Silvina Milstein, supported by the Arts & Humanities Scholarship. In the coming year, he will be working on several commissions including a choral work for Helsinki Chamber Choir, an orchestral work for Jyväskylä Sinfonia and a piano trio for Kamarikesä-festival.

In spring 2022, London Symphony Orchestra conducted by François-Xavier Roth premiered Sunfall at the Barbican in London and took the work on tour to Konzerthaus Dortmund, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Musikkens Hus Aalborg. Recent commissions include a song cycle Autumn Songs for Maria Turunen and Armaan Madar; a solo piano work Snowscapes for Allison Wang; a chamber work Pilgrim for Philharmonia Orchestra supported by Royal Philharmonic Society and commercially released by NMC Recordings in 2022; a quintet Songs of Empty Landscapes for Uusinta Ensemble; and a string quartet On Blue for Kreutzer Quartet.

In February 2019, Joel received 1st Prize in the 7th Edition of 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 Philharmonie de Paris. Following this, a 30-minute Composer Portrait of Joel was broadcast on France Musique. Ripped Tapestry received its Finnish premiere by Jyväskylä Sinfonia, conducted by Ruut Kiiski in September 2021.

2018 saw the premiere Massahumu (co-written with four other Finnish composers) 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 Juhlaviikot (Helsinki Festival).

In 2017 Stonewalls for chamber orchestra was premiered by Royal Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Lars Vogt and subsequently awarded 3rd prize in their 2017 Composition Competition. Cantus for orchestra received its premiere by the RCM Philharmonic under the baton of Martin André, as the winner of the RCM Concerto Competition. Cantus also received a second performance by Bergen Philharmonic Youth Orchestra conducted by Kjell Seim at UNM Festival 2018 at Grieghallen in Bergen. Joel participated in the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme Composition Course 2017 which culminated into a performance of Tumma at Aldeburgh Festival 2018.

His works so far have been performed in various venues and festivals in UK, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Canada and USA. In 2016, Joel was granted a membership as one the youngest ever members of the Society of Finnish Composers (Suomen Säveltäjät ry). He 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 with Prof. Veli-Matti Puumala. In the past he has studied with Dr. Dai Fujikura, also receiving tuition from Unsuk Chin, Colin Matthews, Michael Gandolfi and Oliver Knussen. He spent his childhood in Germany and Luxembourg.

Compilations with this composer

Compilations
Philharmonia 4

Composers' Academy Vol 4

NMC Recordings

Find out more & buy
CBSO Sounds New

Sounds New: 20 New Works Celebrating 100 Years of CBSO

NMC Recordings

20 short commissions from rising-star composers performed by The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra form an impressive showcase of the range and breadth of contemporary orchestral writing happening in the UK today

More info

External Links

Music Map

Discover more about the classical music of today with NMC's Music Map, and exciting and educational online tool which enables you to see and hear the connections between composers, their teachers, pupils, influences and their works.

Music Map