Joe was 12 years old when his older brother Mike first showed him how to play the guitar. He learned all he could from him within a month, so his parents decided to enroll him in lessons with local jazz guitarist Johnny Frisco. That’s when “the hook was set” and Joe became a guitarist for life. Forty years later, Joe’s passion for music is still growing.
During his middle school years, Joe started performing with groups at school and at church. By the time he was in high school, he was playing professionally with local big bands and dance orchestras. Music school was the next logical step. After graduation, Joe played professionally for a number of years before settling into teaching.
Teaching, it turns out, is something Joe is “hardwired” to do. To Joe, teaching is more than just imparting knowledge and skills: it is also about showing the student how to express themselves well and connect with others in a positive meaningful way. This is especially true when teaching children who, more and more today, are in need of encouragement from adults who can be seen as good role models. Faith, family and community are important to Joe, so the decision to work at Hearts’ Home Acoustics was a no-brainer.
Joe has received degrees from University of North Texas (BM Jazz Studies), UTSA (MM Classical Guitar Performance) and Dallas Theological Seminary (MA Biblical Studies). He has served on the music faculties of Trinity University, The University of the Incarnate Word, Palo Alto College and Northwest Vista College. Joe has also served as music director for Communion Chapel EFCA, and as worship leader for Hillside Fellowship in Bulverde. He is still active as a performer with various jazz bands and classical ensembles in the San Antonio area.
