Musician & Educator
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Biography
Josh has spent over 15 years performing across the east coast. By the age of 18 he booked over 200 shows as a gigging musician. By 25 he helped produce and finance 4 albums. He has opened for groups like Blues Traveler, Village People, Gin Blossoms, and Blood Sweat and Tears. Josh takes an interest in writing scholarship that investigates the history of saxophone literature and rap and hip-hop’s relationship with western traditions. He advocates for popularized genres having a place in the university and believes a performer should have the skills necessary to execute a broad range of music. “To be successful saxophonists, we must collaborate with a wide range of artists to secure the instrument’s longevity.” Josh is currently a music lecturer at Washington College teaching saxophone clarinet and commercial courses such as History of Hip-Hop and Arts Entrepreneurship. He is a Doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland College Park where he is the teaching assistant to Dr. Tim Powell. He previously studied with Dr. James Umble, Dr. Robert Young, Dr. Christopher Creviston, and Linden Gregory.
Performer
Josh has performed over 600 shows throughout his career. His stage presence leads to constant callbacks, and his skills as a musician move beyond the saxophone. Whether performing in a hip-hop group or big band, he elevates the performance.
An outreach performance with local band students in the Youngstown Ohio area.
Josh doubling on flute during a festival in NJ
Working with high schoolers from the DMV area at UMD's Allstate Clinic
Fostori Quartet gave a master class at a high school in rural PA
Educator
Josh earned his bachelor’s in music education at the Crane School of Music. His student teaching placements focused on working with inner-city students as well as students with special needs. After graduation, he was hired at Brown School in Schenectady, NY as the assistant band director, where he additionally provided private instruction to woodwind students and started an after-school jazz program. While earning his master’s degree, he taught woodwind techniques to music education majors and gave saxophone lessons to majors and minors. He is an adjunct saxophone and clarinet instructor at Washington College and has created courses teaching students entrepreneurship and hip-hop. Josh is currently accepting students into his private studio. Lessons can be given both online and in person. Click the link below to set up a lesson.
Student Testimonials
“I really admire Josh’s methods of teaching such as breaking down phrases, getting rhythms right, and so forth. He was quick to point out errors in our playing, and always veered us in the right direction with patience and great advice.”
— Zach F. Music Performance Major
“Honestly couldn’t be happier with the lessons I’ve taken from Josh. I really appreciate how he works with you to figure out what your goals as a player are, and how to best spend your time to achieve them. Every lesson I had with him was a learning experience, and he picks up on things in my playing that I had never even thought of. Honestly had a great time working with him. Any sax player looking for articulate and knowledge guidance should take at least one lesson with Josh.”
— David R. Jazz Studies Major
“I had a great experience taking lessons from Josh. He was a very cool and relatable person, while still managing to keep a professional atmosphere. I enjoyed the lessons, and feel I came out of them a better musician.”
— Logan H. Composition Major
Lessons | Coaching | Masterclass
Interest in lessons, coaching or requesting Josh into your musical community for a master class or lecture?
“Hippness is not a state of mind, it’s a fact of life”
—Cannonball Adderley