Joshua Garrett

Joshua Garrett is a performing artist, composer, arranger, and instructor located in Wheeling, WV - a small community near Pittsburgh, PA. He graduated with a Bachelor's of Music in Percussion Performance from West Liberty University in December, 2014. Garrett is currently performing as a Rock Band Drummer on Carnival Cruise Line. He has had the privilege of performing with The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and The Vince Villanova Big Band. and also performs his original compositions and arrangements as a solo artist and other professional ensembles. Josh has shared his talents with many local bands in the Ohio Valley such as Steel Cassa, Adrian Niles Band, Mark Gorby Trio, New American Groove, Hit Play, and the late Anthony Riley, who competed on NBC's The Voice. He is also a founding member of the Tunnel Green Duo, an acoustic duo from the Wheeling area.

 

Joshua has been writing music for his own enjoyment and for professional commissions for over fifteen years. His compositions and arrangements are currently being performed by groups such as the West Virginia University Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Steel Drum Ensemble, the Washington High School Steel Band located in Washington PA, the Campbell Hall Steel Band from Hollywood CA, the Wheeling Park High School Steel Band and Percussion Ensemble, the John Marshall High School Steel Band, the Wheeling Middle School Steel Band, Steel Cassa, and many more. In addition, he has arranged music for local high school marching bands, drum lines, concert bands, and jazz ensembles.

 

Garrett enjoys performing on all aspects of percussion, but especially on Tenor Pan and Drum Set, where he is in high demand as a performer in the tri-state area. He also enjoys making music with his family and friends, and especially enjoys the challenge and satisfaction of writing custom arrangements or original compositions for his friends and for those who request his services. Josh has studied percussion with Byron Filben, Seth Bell, Jason Birch, George Willis, Al Wrublesky, Rick Parsons, and Brian Baldauff, Director of Percussion Studies and Athletic Bands at West Liberty University.

 

His original compositions for steel band, "Let the Air In", "Fiesta de Sueños", "Distractions", and "Very Much (A Lot)" have been published and are being sold on www.tapspace.com. They have all recieved high praise on Percussive Notes Magazine from acclaimed and accomplished steel band educators, Dave Gerhart and Chris Tanner. "Very Much (A Lot)" was performed by the 2012 PASIC All-Star Steel Band at the 2012 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) held in Austin, Texas.

 

Joshua competed and won first place in the 2014 PAS West Virginia Day of Percussion Collegiate Snare Drum Competiton. and also represented West Liberty University at the 2014 PASIC Marching Festival.