Bio
Joseph Pastor is the percussionist you can hire for any gig.
He is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, artist, and educator based in St. Louis MO. He has a Masters of Art in Teaching and a Bachelor of Music Performance, and is a Missouri Certified K-12 Instrumental Music Teacher.
Joe’s professional music engagements number in the thousadns and cover an incredibly wide range from jazz and blues to theater and orchestral, as well as rock, world-music, and electronic music.
Since 2023 alone he has performed with the St. Louis Symphony, the Muny Orchestra, Opera Theater St. Louis, Winter Opera St. Louis, University City Symphony Orchestra (principal percussion), Peoria IL Symphony, Masterworks Chorale, and St. Louis Children’s Chorus.
As a drummer/vibraphonist he has recorded with Marquis Knox, the legendary Johnnie Johnson, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Javier Mendoza, Bonnie Bramlett, and many local artists.
He is the vibraphonist, composer, and leader of the Joe Pastor Trio, a jazz group who’s album “Occam’s Razor” is available on most streaming platforms and can be heard on radio stations like KDHX and WSIE. He is often called upon by St. Louis’ top jazz artists to accompany them as drummer or vibraphonist.
Joe has been teaching college-level music since 2011 and is currently teaching at UMSL, St. Louis Community College, and St. Charles Community College. His classes include audio technology, jazz ensembles, percussion ensembles, orchestration, fundamentals of music, and music appreciation.
During his seven-year tenure as Director of Music at Bishop DuBourg High School Mr. Pastor directed concert band, jazz band, mixed chorus, pep bands, and taught general music. He wrote and implemented the curriculum for Digital Music Production and Beginning Drums.
Joe Pastor is a published, award-winning, and commissioned composer. He won second prize in the Percussive Arts Society International Composition Contest, has been commissioned by the Modern American Dance Company, and is published by Bachovich Music. His works have been performed by the University City Symphony, St. Louis Wind Symphony, and by soloists and ensembles at University of Missouri, UMSL, University of Kentucky, Stephen F. Austin University, the Texas Ballet, The University of Florida, Washington University, Webster University, Jefferson College, and the Italy PAS Percussion Competition.
Joe is an avid painter, amateur astronomer, camper, and hiker. He is also very proud of his cooking skills, and enjoys playing softball and disc-golf.
He 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