Pekka Juhani (P. J.) Hannikainen (9.12. 1854 Nurmes – 13.9. 1924 Helsinki) was a Finnish poet and composer with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He also served as a choir director and founded the YL Male Voice Choir, Male Choir Sirkat and the Jyväskylä Amateur Orchestra.

During his studies at the University of Helsinki, Hannikainen led choirs, played the violin, wrote poetry and translated literature into Finnish. After graduating, he worked as a music lecturer at the Jyväskylä seminary for 30 years, doing pioneering work for music education. He also edited the first Finnish-language music magazine Säveleitä.

Pekka Hannikainen did not get excited about composing until 1889. Despite that, he managed to write more than 200 school and choir songs. The songs dating to the rise of the national awakening are related to the Finnish tradition. Many of them are favorites of the Finnish choirs and a large part of the songs are composed to his own poems.