BMI Foundation Presents the 2024 peermusic Latin Music Award to Pianist and Composer Tomás Jonsson

The BMI Foundation, Inc. has named Baltimore-based pianist and composer Tomás Jonsson the winner of the 2024 peermusic Latin Music Award. Jonsson’s winning composition, Ocurrencias, was written as a tribute to the sudden inspiration he experiences in his songwriting process. As part of the award, Jonsson will receive a career grant as well as 1:1 artistic mentorship from Venezuelan singer-songwriter and producer Jorge Luis Chacín.

When asked about the award, Jonsson shared “I am so honored to be named this year’s BMI Foundation peermusic Latin Music Award winner. I hope this song makes you want to dance; I hope you enjoy it. Thank you so much for this honor.” 

Described as “extraordinarily talented” by Houston Public Media, Jonsson is an internationally recognized pianist and composer attending the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University. In February 2024, Tomás won 2nd Place (and Best Jazz Ballad) at the UNISA International Jazz Piano Competition in Pretoria, South Africa. In May of 2023, Tomás won 1st Place at the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition. He is known for his ability to perform with any lineup, in any genre, for any audience. His experience in historically Black Baptist churches has infused his playing with a gospel sensibility that is uncommon for a classically trained musician. 

The peermusic Latin Music Award, established in 2003 by peermusic CEO Ralph Peer II, is an annual competition for young songwriters and composers of Latin music. The award includes a $5,000 monetary prize for the best original song or instrumental composition in any Latin genre. On the 20th anniversary of the award, Venezuelan singer-songwriter and producer Jorge Luis Chacín announced that he would be representing the award and offering 1:1 artistic mentorship to awardees. For twenty years, this award has encouraged promising young musicians who have gone on to exciting careers in performance and songwriting. 

In the last two decades, the award has recognized twenty emerging songwriting and composing talents who have gone on to careers as film and media composers, songwriters, actors, and performers. Notable past winners of the award include singer/actor Mane de la Parra and songwriter Daniela Blau. Judges for the award over the years have included composer Kike Santander, Latin Grammy President Gabriel Abaroa, composer Daniel Freiberg, producer Alcover, musician Linda Briceño, producer Andrés Saavedra, and musician Nicolás Junca from the band Monsieur Periné; and representatives have included superstars such as Juanes, Chayanne, and Prince Royce.

Listen to Ocurrencias by Tomás Jonsson here. 

About the BMI Foundation
The BMI Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to encourage the creation, performance, and study of American music. The Foundation’s programs include competitive scholarships for songwriters and composers, operating grants for nonprofit arts presenters, and support for innovative music education initiatives in schools and communities across the country. For more information about the work of the Foundation, please visit our website at www.bmifoundation.org. For exclusive news and content, follow @bmifoundation on Twitter and  Instagram, and like BMI Foundation on Facebook.