Jarmo Sermilä, born on August 16, 1939, in Hämeenlinna, Finland, was a Finnish composer known for his work in classical music, electronic music, and jazz. He studied music science at the University of Helsinki and composition at the Sibelius Academy under František Kovaříček and Joonas Kokkonen. Sermilä's career included roles as curator at Jean Sibelius' birthplace from 1966 to 1971 and director of the Finnish Music Information Centre (now Music Finland) from 1971 to 1976. He released several albums, including Confluence in 1985 and At Bizarre Exits in 1992. His compositions spanned ballet music, orchestral pieces, and electroacoustic works. As a jazz musician, he played the trumpet and flugelhorn, collaborating with artists like Edward Vesala and Emil Viklický. Sermilä served as deputy chairman of Teosto from 1994 to 1999 and was awarded the title of professor in 2004. He passed away on June 26, 2024, in Hämeenlinna.
