Joseph Pastor joined UMSL as Instructor of Audio Production beginning the Spring 2024 semester. Joe is a drummer, vibraphonist and percussionist based in St. Louis MO. He has a Master’s of Art in Teaching and a Bachelor of Music Performance, and is a Missouri Certified K-12 Instrumental Music Teacher. He has performed professionally all over the United States in at least 2,500 professional engagements over a wide range of settings including jazz, blues, rock, world-music, orchestral, modern dance, and theater.
In 2000 Joe earned a bachelor of music performance in jazz percussion from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, studying drum set and vibraphone with Reggie Thomas, Montez Coleman, and Tom Kennedy. Previous to being a serious student of jazz, Joe had initially entered college as a classical percussion major and played for three seasons in the prestigious St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. He lived briefly in New York City, and then held the job as drummer for Legends in Concert in Branson MO, but by 2003 he had returned to St. Louis to become a regular and respected member of the thriving blues and jazz scene here.
Since completing his Master's of Art in Teaching in 2013, he has been the music director for School of Rock in Kirkwood MO, music teacher at Premier Charter School, and is currently the Director of Music at Bishop DuBourg High School. Since 2011 he has been adjunct instructor of music at Jefferson College in Hillsoboro MO, where he teaches Percussion Ensemble, Music Appreciation, and Private Applied Lessons, and has taught Jazz Combo and Music 101. He is the founder and artistic director of the St. Louis Legacy Ensemble, a 501(c)(3) non-profit who partners the city’s most esteemed professional musicians with dedicated music students of all ages in concerts, clinics, and masterclasses.
Joseph Pastor is a member of ASCAP, the Percussive Arts Society, NAfME, AFM Local 2-197, Missouri Association for Jazz Educators, Missouri Bandmasters Association, St. Louis Blues Society, the St. Louis Astronomical Society, and the Astronomical Association for Eastern Missouri.
Check out
Joe Pastor's Website to listen to recordings of his award-winning compositions.
