Toivo Timoteus Kuula (7.7. 1883 Alavus – 18.5. 1918 Viipuri) was a Finnish composer and conductor whose style represents national romanticism.

Kuula was South Ostrobothnian who was born in Alavus and registered as a native in the city of Vaasa. He studied composition privately under Jean Sibelius from 1906 to 1908, which makes him the first composition student of Sibelius, and between years 1908-1909 in Bologna, Leipzig and Paris. Kuula is a colorful and passionate portrayer of Finnish nature & people and remembered especially for his large output of melodic choir and vocal works. He also composed chamber and orchestral works. Most of his male choir compositions is dedicated to the first Finnish speaking choir YL Male Voice Choir.

Kuula was known to be a fierce Fennoman. He died only 34 years old in 1918 in Viipuri after being mortally wounded 18 days earlier.  The bullet was fired by a jäger as a result of a quarrel that happened at the Hotel Seurahuone during White victory celebration in the Civil war of Finland. Ironically, “Kuula” means “bullet” in Finnish. Kuula is buried in Helsinki.

ps. All scores of his male choir works are from the new Critical Edition, edited by Tuomas Meurman and published by YL Male Voice Choir in 2013.