Vellu Halkosalmi (b. 1971) is a composer, arranger and educator living in Helsinki, Finland. He first started his career in music by studying the trombone in the age of 9, but later on went to study the guitar in the age of 15. Between 1991 and 1998 he studied guitar, music theory, composing and arranging at the Pop & Jazz Conservatory in Helsinki.

Halkosalmi is a versatile composer and arranger. He has written music for band, big band, strings, vocal ensembles, chamber orchestra and symphony orchestra among others. His wide stylistic range covers pop, rock, jazz and contemporary music as well as music for theatre, TV and commercials.

Halkosalmi has worked with the Metropole Orchestra, WDR Big Band, UMO Jazz Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, The Chamber Orchestra of Lapland, Vantaa Pops Orchestra, Gustav Klimt String Quartet, St. Michel Strings among others. In 2007 his composition ”Solo flight” won both the 1st prize and the public prize in the ”2nd Esko Linnavalli Big Band composition contest” in finland.

In Finland Halkosalmi is also known for his work in the field of music education. He has been largely involved in developing Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory between 1999-2007, and has also co-written a popular educational book ”Doctor tonic” for music theory and ear training with his colleague Pasi Heikkilä.