Pertti Jalava (born 1960 in Turku, Finland) has composed numerous works for various chamber ensembles choral groups and orchestra, including three symphonies and a piano concerto. He also writes for jazz and big band line-ups.

Jalava studied composition almost entirely on his own. In 1993, having already created an extensive repertoire influenced by jazz and classical music for his jazz ensembles, he studied theatre composition with the American Craig Bohmler on a six-month course run by the Finnish Music Theater Association. As his final assignment he composed a chamber opera called Paradise. Having completed this course, a turning point in his career, Jalava embarked on an intensive course of private study and attended composition laboratories held by the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and the University of Turku in 1994, 1996, and 1998.

He has won a number of prizes in Finnish and international composition competitions with works for string orchestra, wind orchestra, chamber ensemble, jazz ensemble and big band. His works have been performed by many orchestras and ensembles in Finland and abroad. He has been a full-time composer since 2001. A Finnish record label, Alba, released “In The Wind” with four of Jalava’s works for string orchestra and soloists (piano and flute) to positive reviews.

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