ABOUT
Dr Joel Collier (b. 1989) brings with him a wealth of experience in the areas of music performance, composition, conducting and pedagogy. Currently a member of the Cory Band and an Impact Officer at Cardiff University, Joel studied for both his Masters and Doctorate in Euphonium Performance, Pedagogy, and Literature at James Madison University, under Kevin Stees. Prior to that he received his Bachelor of Science in Music Industry: Music Technology from Drexel University.
Joel is a multi-award winning composer and euphonium soloist, regarded by Demondrae Thurman as “an excellent example of what’s good about the future of music.” He is a multiple winner of the Drexel University Concerto Competition (2008 and 2010), obtained first place in the NABBA Low Brass Slow Melody Contest (2012), and was a finalist in the JMU Concerto Competition (2014). As a composer, he was the winner of the New York Staff Band Composer Contest in 2019 with his work Personent Hodie, while in 2018 and 2020 he came runner-up in the same competition. Joel currently has 15 published works with The Salvation Army in the USA and the UK, as well as BrookWright Music and PrimaVista Musik. He also self publishes regularly on his own website, JoelCollier.com
As a euphonium artist, he has held principal positions with Atlantic Brass Band, JMU Brass Band, National Capital Band, the South Carolina Brass Band, and River Brass, whilst also being a soloist for the Southern Territorial Band, The Salvation Army’s premier band in the southern states of the United States. Joel has two solo CDs to his name – Shadowed (2015), where he features as a euphonium soloist with brass band, and Dream Big Little One (2020), a solo piano recording of all original lullabies. In addition, he features on a number of other recordings for groups including the Southern Territorial Band, National Capital Band, Drexel Fusion Band and Pendel Brass.
As a conductor, Joel has been the founder and director of Liberty Brass, founder and director of Cardinal Brass, and director of Paradise Brass. He has been in demand as a guest conductor and clinician for bands across North America and the United Kingdom. He was also Band Manager for the Massanutten Youth Brass Band from 2012 to 2016, and currently serves remotely as the artistic director of the South Carolina Brass Band.
In the field of education, Joel has wide ranging experience having been a summer music instructor at various summer music conservatories across the United States, where he fulfilled the roles of Band Director, Faculty Brass Ensemble Performer, and Private Lesson Instructor. Between 2011 and 2013 he was a Graduate Assistant at James Madison University, before progressing to Doctoral Teaching Assistant at the same university until 2016. Joel enjoyed a brief season from 2016-2017 as Creative Arts Directorfor The Salvation Army in Fredericksburg, directing weekly music and arts programs. Between 2017 and 2021 he was the Divisional Music Director for The Salvation Army’s Kentucky and Tennessee Division, overseeing all the music and arts programs. From 2021-2023 Joel was Assistant Professor of Music at Allen University, Columbia SC, prior to his relocation to the United Kingdom
Between 2014 and 2020 Joel was on the Board of Directors for the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA), serving as Vice President between 2017 and 2019. He is currently a Besson Performing Artist and Mercer & Barker Performing Artist.