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 16.

While still studying in high school Joonas got into the Junior Academy in 2000 and after two years he continued his music studies at the Sibelius-Academy Department of Jazz Music in Helsinki. After graduating from the high school in 2001 he accomplished the military service in the Military Music School in Lahti.

Joonas has had Master classes for example with Randy Brecker, Dave Kikoski, Tim Hagans and Chris Potter. At the Sibelius-Academy he has had a great honour to study piano with Mikael Jakobson, Jim Beard, Jukkis Uotila (professor of the department of jazz music) and Seppo Kantonen. Despite his young age Joonas has played with such great musicians as Ron McLure, Gary Keller, Dante Luciani, Leo Brooks, Bill Watrous, Bertil Strandberg, Bill Kirchner, Jukka Perko, Manuel Dunkel and Jukka Tolonen. In 2005 he got a scholar from the Sibelius-Academy for studies in the University of Miami, Frost School of Music. During his exchange year in Miami Joonas played in various groups with local musicians and founded his own international group called IMPORT with whom they had concerts and gigs around Miami. He studied composing with Professor Ron Miller and piano with the Director of the Piano Studio, Doug Bickel.