Young Composers Seminar with Joe Jaxson, Richmond Symphony Composer in Residence

Joe Jaxson

Recent premieres and events include “Fantasia” with the United States Heritage of America Band, “Born in the Iron Grip” with the Richmond Symphony, “First Time Composers program | Paramount x 5 Alarm Songwriting Camp” (2024), “Joy of the Soul” with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra (2024), “Through the Bay” with James Madison University Symphony Orchestra and 10 consortium orchestras across the country (2023-Present), “Within the Flux” (2023) for Sax Quartet and Percussion, “Treeflowers” (2023) performed by the Sandbox Percussion Quartet.

Born in NY (b.2000) and raised in Staunton, VA, the Jaxson(Jackson) household was filled with the euphonious sounds of Smooth Jazz, Soul, R&B, and more thanks to his father; whereas on his mother’s side was Classical and Christian Gospel. Having grown up with these genres blended every which way contributed to Joe developing a strong ear for music and sound. Joe earned his B.M. in Composition at James Madison University in 2022, studying with professors Eric Guinivan and Jason Haney. Finishing up his Doctoral studies at UT Austin, studying with Professors Donald Grantham, Yevgeniy Sharlat, Omar Thomas, Joe works in multiple mediums (Band, Orchestra, Chamber, etc.) to create a diverse and multi-faceted portfolio writing everything from beginning band to experimental foley however championing his want to collaborate and connect with mass audiences.

December of 2025, Joe’s orchestral work Through the Bay, won the American Prize in Composition within the orchestra-college division. Jumping back to 2018, his wind ensemble piece, “Fanfare and Celebration” was selected for recognition at the VMEA (Virginia Music Educators Association) Composition Festival during its annual conference. Joe's piece, "Fanfare and Overture for Orchestra" was recently selected by the Concerto Chamber Orchestra 2020 Call for Scores as one of its winners for their upcoming season. During the summer of 2020 Joe has participated in NYU’s Film Scoring Workshop where he worked with successful Film and TV composers Mark Snow and Michael A. Levine. Joe was also selected as one of the ten composers for the modern chamber group “Five by Five's" 2020 Call for Scores and Ideas. Joe has attended numerous institutes and festivals such as the SPLICE Institute and the Wintergreen Music Festival having masterclasses and seminars with faculty composers Gilda Lyons and Daron Hagen. Joe’s piece, “Persevering” has been performed by the Juventas Mew Music Ensemble in Boston and by the JMNew Music Ensemble in Harrisonburg, Virginia. “Persevering” was also named an honorable mention in the newEar 2020-2021 Composition Contest,  chosen as a Finalist in the 2021 Press Start Inaugural Composer Competition as well as Finalist in the 2021 Inaugural Jessie S. Yee Memorial Commission Competition. Joe's new work for string orchestra "Prologue" has been selected as the winner of the 2021 JMU New Music for Strings Competition and was premiered by the JMU Symphony Orchestra in April 2022. Also in April, Joe’s new work for wind ensemble, “Safety, A Fluttered Heart” has been selected as the winner of the 2021 JMU New Music for Wind Ensemble Competition and was premiered by the JMU Symphonic Band.

Joe has composed original music for the Donald Heiter Community Center's 2021 Radio Dramas: "Natalie and the Chocolate Factory," streamed through their "Sweeten Your Spirit" podcast during their annual Chocolate Festival, and "Tarrstown Tales: Kris's Time-Traveling Lewisburg Adventure" for their annual Celebration of the Arts, and "Michael's Star" for the Heiter Center's "Rock and Read" Reading Marathon & Fundraiser Event.
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 In addition to composing, Joe takes pleasure in arranging music. In August 2020, Joe arranged the instrumental for the newly released single, "Rooftop" by recording artist, Georgia Saunders. In April 2024, he participated in the “First Time Composers program | Paramount x 5 Alarm Songwriting Camp” with 13 other cohorts to write and produce 12 tracks in varying styles. Jaxson recently signed with Brian Horner at Craft Brewed Music for exclusive management representation.