Jouni Hirvelä is a Helsinki-based composer. His interest in musical movement and the materiality of sound has led to a versatile and colorful body of work, which includes orchestral, chamber, and vocal music, as well as installations and electroacoustic compositions.
His recent works include Muistijälkiä for the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (as part of their Helsinki Variations commission project) and Tuning in to Ice commissioned by Tapiola Sinfonietta. His works has been selected to or commissioned by festivals and concert series such as Musica Nova Helsinki, PianoEspoo, Tampere Biennale, Porvoo Summer Sounds, ISCM World Music Days, Viitasaari Time of Music, Klang Helsinki Concert series, Unerhörte Musik and Nordlichte Biennale in Berlin, Turku Music Festival, and Kotkan Lohisoitto. In august 2015 he had a profile concert at Helsinki Music Centre in the Summers Young Artist Concert Series. He has collaborated with ensembles such as Avanti Chamber Orchestra, Talea Ensemble, Uusinta Ensemble, Kymi Sinfonietta, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Formalist Quartet, Ensemble Adapter and Zagros Ensemble.
Hirvelä holds a Master’s Degree from Sibelius Academy where he studied with professor Veli-Matti Puumala and Tapio Nevanlinna. He also studied in Berlin Universität der Künste with Elena Mendoza. He participated on numerous master classes and workshops, including ones with Kaija Saariaho, Marco Stroppa and Chaya Czernowin. Currently he pursues an artistic doctorate in Sibelius Academy.
In 2017 Hirvelä won the 38. International Irino Prize Competition with his work Atmenwerk for organ and ensemble. He was a finalist in Einojuhani Rautavaara Chamber Choir Composition Competition, as well as in the and Feeding Music Competition organized by the World EXPO Milan. He won a Special Prize in the 2nd Ise-Shima composition competition in 2022. He has received special prizes from Martin Wegelius and Pro Musica Foundations and his work has been supported by Finnish Cultural Foundation, Kordelin Foundation and the Arts Promotion Centre.
Hirvelä has also worked as festival leader for UNM-festival arranged in Helsinki 2015.