Johanna Telander is a Finnish-American composer, writer, performer, and a Recording Academy Voting Member since 2024.

The most internationally prominent Finnish musical theatre composer, whose works have been heard on several stages in New York and Finland, as well as on silver screens around the world, Telander is likely best known as the creator of the global phenomenon “Kalevala The Musical”, from which song selections have been showcased at the UN Headquarters, The NY Scandinavia House, the Estonian House New York, Helsinki Kapsakki Theatre, and the Signature Theatre Off-Broadway. Kalevala the Musical's 2022 concept album, starring
Broadway’s Ramin Karimloo and Julia Murney, has earned significant international acclaim, having been listened to in over 80 countries by thousands of fans in and outside of theatre communities worldwide.

Her newest work, “Tales of Les Dames Blanches”, is a new original musical inspired by the universally feared feminine ghost stories of the Ladies in White, told throughout the world from the folklore of medieval Northern Europe, to fireside tales across all four continents. The official concept album recording, starring an all-female cast including Militia Vox, Natalie Toro and Felicia Curry, was released in August 2026.

Beyond theatre, Johanna has published two books of poetry, and is collaborating on scripts and scores both as a writer and composer. She most recently earned acclaim for her contributions in Quentin Garzón’s award-winning indie short “Gray Land”—and continues to release her own original contemporary pop songs for voice and harp.

Career highlights include performing at the UN, Lincoln Center, and, alongside Residente and Bad Bunny, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Johanna is a member of NAMT, the Dramatist Guild, SONA, MAESTRA, The Recording Academy, incl. The GRAMMY® Songwriters and Composers Wing, the MLC, BMI, Women in Music, The Society of Composers and Lyricists, AWFC, and Sag-AFTRA.