Photo of Jonas Tarm by Bela Baptiste
Jonas was born in Tallinn in 1994 to Eve Tarm and his American-Estonian father Mihkel Tarm. Jonas’ parents had him apply at the age of seven to Vanalinna Hariduskolleegiumi Music School (“VHK”), where Jonas was accepted. He began playing the violin, but also sang in the school’s boys’ choir. Jonas was already meeting collaborators from the young age of one, and as we can see in photos from the time, was already making friends with Jim Ashilevi, who would go on to write the lyrics (albeit thirty years later) for the song “Distant Echo.”
Jonas, his younger brother Brendan, and their parents moved to the U.S. in 2004, and he entered grade five in the suburbs of Chicago. Jonas did not deviate from his initial path and pursue something else like sports, but instead continued to focus on music. At his local school, Highland Park High School, he took part in the unique program called “Focus on the Arts” and studied classical music through playing the violin and taking composition lessons at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy. Coming from Estonia and being interested in classical music, he says that he felt “different.” But by junior high school, Jonas knew he wanted to become a professional in the field of music.
Brendan, Jonas’ younger brother, holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in cello performance, prompting the question: how did music become so deeply entwined in both their lives? Jonas replied that both of his parents were always very supportive, and they had multi-generational relatives and ancestors (great-grandparents and onwards) who sowed the musical seeds of their lives.
He then attended the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he completed his four-year B.M. in composition. He liked the hybrid of conservative traditions mixed with being creatively liberal and how the school was open to new creative ideas.
After winning the America-wide ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Award in 2012 and receiving a first place composition award at the Music Teacher’s National Association (MTNA) in 2013 (America’s most prestigious national award for young artists), people began to take notice of Jonas.
As a young man, Jonas received mentoring and support from Estonia’s legendary composer Veljo Tormis.
At the age of eighteen, Jonas received his first (of several) major commissions from the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra.
This source of support and commissions made Jonas realize he was not only a composer, but an Estonian composer.
Jonas returned to the New England Conservatory of Music to complete his master’s in Music (composition) in 2019. During his master’s degree studies, he found his other passion in addition to composing classical music—film music. He continues to compose and produce film scores.
Jonas explains that most of his classical concert music composition work is based in Europe (including Estonia) and most of his film and media work is in the US. This is how he earns his livelihood today.
In addition to the freelance composition of classical concert music, which has included a commission of an orchestral overture titled “The Sun Sings” (“Päike laulab”) for the Estonian XXVIII Song Celebration in 2025, he began composing and producing film and TV music. Jonas explains that most of his classical concert music composition work is based in Europe (including Estonia) and most of his film and media work is in the US. This is how he earns his livelihood today.
Jonas sincerely holds the belief that the arts and music make the world a better place.
To put this belief into action, in May 2022 (after Russia had commenced its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022), Jonas led the arrangement and organized a performance of Ukrainian folk songs as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine and Ukrainians. The cause of Ukraine is close to Jonas’ heart, and he says we must stand in solidarity with Ukrainians; they are paying the highest price to not only to defend themselves, but the freedom and culture of the entire democratic free world, including Estonia.
He said his ultimate goal is to make meaningful and impactful creative works, not only in music.
His present composition “Kauge kaja,” with lyrics by Jim Ashilevi received its world premiere in New York City just days before Estonia’s Independence Day in February 2026 and will be receiving its Estonian premiere at the Estonia Theatre’s Chamber Hall on April 26th, 2026, performed by the Tallinn Chamber Choir (with Jonas Tarm conducting). The Canadian premiere of this work will be by the same Tallinn Chamber Choir at the opening of KESKUS in August 2026. Jonas was very pleased with how supportive Heli Jürgenson (Head Choirmaster of the XXVIII General Song Festival—the most recent one) had been with this initiative.
Jonas cannot say more at this point in time, but stay tuned for further information about the release of the recording of “Kauge kaja.” Better yet, be sure not to miss the performance of “Kauge kaja” in Toronto at KESKUS in August 2026.
