Uusinta Publishing Company

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Composers –> Vainio, Jennah

A chameleon of musical versatility

Jennah Vainio has studied composition at the Helsinki University and at the Sibelius Academy. She has also participated in master courses. Her pieces have been performed both home and abroad and broadcasted on the radio.

Most of Vainio’s pieces are written commissions. Orchestras and choirs that have performed her pieces include Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (USA), Hartford Symphony Orchestra (USA), Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra (Sweden), Ensemble Fusions (Canada), Nordlys Ensemble (Denmark), Zagros Ensemble, Mikkeli City Orchestra, The Finnish Radio Chamber Choir and UMO Jazz Orchestra. Her works have been published (Sulasol, Uusinta) and recorded (Pilfink Records, Alba Records).

A Sweet Escapade and Ankomst till Hades (Arrival in Hades), two pieces by Vainio, have both enjoyed success in international composition competitions.

Besides classical music Vainio is known for her passion for metal and its sub genres. A guitarist herself, Vainio’s first influences included the neoclassical metal guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen and Jason Becker.

She is also a member of the EDM trio Frauen Feuer! specializing in commercial club/dancefloor music.

As a composer, Vainio feels that it is important to be versatile stylistically.

There are only two kinds of music according to her, ”good and bad”.

Awards

•Tampere Vocal Music Festival composition competition, 2001: First prize with the piece Ankomst till Hades (text: Edith Södergran) for male choir
•Deuxième concours International de Composition Musicale, 2003, Belgium: Semifinalist work with the piece A Sweet Escapade in the category for Jazz Orchestra
•Pro Musica medal, for years of voluntary work in the field of music, 1992