Pianist and composer Joonas Haavisto started his musical studies at the age of seven by playing classical double bass in the conservatory of his home town, Kokkola. He played the double bass for six years and also sang in a boy choir for five years. Joonas started playing the piano at the age of sixteen.

In 2002 Joonas entered to the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and Sibelius-Academy in Helsinki. In Sibelius-Academy Joonas has studied jazz piano with Mikael Jakobson, Jim Beard, Jukkis Uotila and Seppo Kantonen. He has had Master classes for example with Randy Brecker, Dave Kikoski, Joey Calderazzo and Chris Potter. In 2005 he got a scholar from the Sibelius-Academy for studies in the University of Miami, Frost School of Music where he studied composing with Professor Ron Miller and piano with the Director of the Piano Studio, Doug Bickel.

Soon after moving to Helsinki in 2002 Joonas began to play in various groups. In the fall 2004 Joonas made his debut with the Finnish top big band UMO Jazz Orchestra. With Jukka Tolonen´s Cool Train they have been touring in Scandinavia and Canada. With Apilas Joonas won the 1st price in the Finnish band competition Young Nordic Jazz Comets. Joonas has performed in various festivals and concert halls in Europe and United States and despite his young age Joonas has also played with such great musicians as Jerry Bergonzi, Ron Mclure, Leo Brooks, Bill Watrous, Bertil Strandberg, John Fedchock, Jukka Perko and Jukkis Uotila.

During the last years Joonas Haavisto Trio has performed in several festivals and as a soloist with two of the greatest chamber orchestras in Finland: Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra in 2007 and The Chamber Orchestra of Lapland in 2008. Joonas Haavisto Trio released their debut album Blue Waters in October 2009.

Recordings:

2009 Joonas Haavisto Trio, Blue Waters
2007 A2, My Sound
2007 Ira Kaspi, Monrepos in my heritage
2004 Jukka Tolonen, Cool Train

Yle Radio Recordings:

2009 Joonas Haavisto Trio
2005 FourTH Quartet
2005 Helmia
2004 UMO
2004 Joonas Haavisto Trio

Competitions and Conferences:

2006 1st Prize at Solo Piano Competition-Festival Jazz Improvisation
2007 1st Prize at Young Nordic Jazz Comets, Finland with Apilas
2008 1st Prize at Finnish Big Band Competition, Imatra with Sibis Big Band

2004 IASJ, Freiburg, Germany
2006 IAJE, New York, USA