Photograph by Alirna Korieva

Jeremy Makkonen (b. January 28, 1998) is a Michigan based composer and performer. Makkonen’s music explores elements of the mystical, the macabre, and the surreal to create an evocative and engaging musical language.

Makkonen has recently collaborated with and has had his music performed and read by the Sofia Philharmonic, the Jasper String Quartet, the NorthStar Duo, HUB New Music, the Khemia Ensemble, Musique 21, and the percussionist Simone Beneventi, and has attended and participated in the 2021 highSCORE Festival, the 2022 Composers Retreat with Dr. Chen Yi, the 2022 Connecticut Summerfest, and the 2024 Sofia Symphonic Summit. He was previously a winner of the 2019 and 2022 Honors Composition Competition at Michigan State University, both times in the category of chamber music. Makkonen was also previously a finalist in The Valley Winds International Composition Competition in 2021 and the ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards Competition in 2022.

Makkonen has Bachelor of Music degrees in Composition and in Flute Performance from Michigan State University, as well as Master of Music degrees in Composition, Flute Performance, and Music Theory. His primary musical mentors include Alexis Bacon, David Biedenbender, Ricardo Lorenz, Richard Sherman, and Zhou Tian.