B i o g r a p h y
Joseph is a world-class guitarist and pedagogue who is best known for his chamber performances and innovative music instruction. He regularly performs across the country and commands a cutting-edge studio in collaboration with local music schools in Los Angeles.
As a member of the Third Rail Flute and Guitar Duo, Joseph has performed at The Morgan Library in NYC and he regularly premieres new works by Cypriot composer Aris Antoniades, Christine Elise Chen, and Milad Yousufi. Joseph also performs with other chamber musicians across the US and was recently invited to Juilliard Pre-College’s anniversary celebration as part of a guitar chamber performance. As a soloist for the Long Island Classical Guitar Society, Narnia Arts Summer Festival, and Reaching for the Arts, he brought his historically informed playing and knowledge of the guitar’s greatest repertoire. He is well known for his sensitive and evocative playing of the works of Giuliani, Sor, Matiegka, and Regondi.
As a pedagogue, he has held positions at University of Nevada: Reno, The Bronx Conservatory of Music, and Ezra Guitar where he instructed over 60 students in Music Appreciation and classical guitar technique every week. Specializing in reading and fretboard comprehension, Joseph’s students gain the deepest possible knowledge of the instrument at the earliest possible point in their musical development. Joseph received his Bachelor's and Masters at the Manhattan School of Music in collaboration with David Leisner and David Starobin. He currently holds a Teaching Assistantship in the Musicology department of the USC Thornton School of Music, where he is pursuing a Doctorate of Classical Guitar Performance with William Kanengiser.
About Me
Joseph grew up in Toms River, NJ, where his interest in music began with film and video game music, in particular his interaction with the popular rhythm game, “Guitar Hero." Only later did he start his formal studies with a local Jazz guitarist at the age of twelve. After a summer introduction to classical guitar in his home state of Reno, NV, he immediately switched his focus to the Classical Guitar.
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The lack of an easily accessible Classical Guitar teacher during the academic year proved a challenge and forced Joseph to travel to the neighboring Wall township to study with Dr. Keith Calmes. After a year of training, he was admitted to the Juilliard School's Pre-College department under the tutelage of Tali Roth. For the next three years, he would spend his preparatory years for admission to the Manhattan School of Music.