Turku Jazz Orchestra launched a composition competition for jazz composers based in Southwest Finland last autumn. Now four works from three local composers have been selected to be performed in the final concert, organised at Turku’s Logomo in early February.
The very first composition competition, launched by Jazz Orchestra in early autumn, gathered eight winner candidates by the deadline in November. Composer Vellu Halkosalmi and the acclaimed vibraphonist Severi Pyysalo, the jury of the qualifying round, selected four works to the final concert. The competing compositions were assessed anonymously.
Composer-saxophonist Kimmo Gröhn is behind two finalist pieces, ”Blues For Her” and ”Four Phases of a Martian Moon”. Hailing from Mynämäki, Gröhn began his career in the ranks of Pori Big Band and is currently a member of Turku Jazz Orchestra. Turku native, today a Sibelius Academy student, pianist Henri Lyysaari was the second composer to qualify for the finals with his piece ”Luotain”. The fourth finalist is the Paimio-based chamber and big band composer Pertti Jalava with his piece ”Lähtö 23:45 laiturilta 6”.
The winner will be selected after each piece has been performed live by Turku Jazz Orchestra. The sagacious jury is composed of Teosto-winning jazz artist Mikko Hassinen, Jussi Fredriksson, the President of the concert series Flame Jazz, and Severi Pyysalo. The audience will have a chance to vote for their favourite piece, too. Vellu Halkosalmi, the artistic director of Turku Jazz Orchestra, will conduct the orchestra and act as the host of the evening.
The competition is supported by the Varsinais-Suomi Regional Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Finnish Music Foundation and Soitin Laine. The competition aims at increasing the visibility of the composers and musicians of Southwestern Finland.
The final will take place at Logi 3 hall in Turku’s Logomo on Wednesday 3 February at 7:00PM. Tickets are now available for purchase via Lippupiste.