Joseph Seifers began his musical career in Portland, Oregon as a bassoonist with the oldest youth symphony in the country, the Portland Youth Philharmonic. While playing in the orchestra and studying bassoon at Portland State University with Gordon Solie, he also performed professionally in numerous musical theatre productions on both bassoon and bass.
Mr. Seifers then went on to the University Of Michigan to study music education and double bass with Stuart Sankey. After leaving Ann Arbor, he accepted a scholarship to the Berklee School of Music in Boston where he graduated cum laude with a degree in jazz performance. He also holds a master’s degree in elementary and special education.
As both an artist-in-residence and band director, Mr. Seifers has been teaching music in public and private schools since 1995. He has taught at the elementary, middle school, and high school level. While in Portland, Mr. Seifers worked with M.U.S.E. Band Inc. founder and director Bryant Allard. “Joe is a gifted instructor. He has a supportive and nurturing, yet commanding presence in working with youth”. Seifers is proud of his work with M.U.S.E. (Musical Understanding through Sound Education) as it brought instrumental music to both private and public schools in need of performing arts education.
Outside of teaching Joe still finds time to perform and tour. During his career as a professional bassist he has performed with Nancy King, Randy Porter, Pink Martini, Rodney Green, Dan Faehnle, Darrell Grant, and many others. He appears on 14 CDs and is currently the musical director for the Rick Younger Show as well as bassist with Moxie, Shine, and the Cal James Orchestra.
Since moving to New York in 2000, Mr. Seifers has enjoyed performing and teaching in the NYC public schools. He started a beginning violin program at P.S. 31Q and P.S. 228Q. For the past six years he has taught instrumental music at P.S. 203, The Oakland Gardens School.
Joseph Seifers is passionate about music and is especially excited to be returning to his orchestral ‘roots’ as conductor for the ISO Queens East Orchestra.
