Joseph Straker

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS TEACHER

Joseph studied the double bass at the Guildhall school with Kevin Rundell, gaining his BMus and Masters qualifications, whilst supported with a Leverhulme scholarship. During his masters year, Joseph played with the LSO as an 'extra player' and received mentorship from Colin Paris. He also took some private classes in Oxford with Thomas Martin . Joseph then spent a few years working in an orchestra aboard, in Portugal, in Orquestra Classica da Madeira, and did some further studies with Charles DeRamus at the University in Gothenburg (Academy of Music and Drama ). He was a semi-finalist in the Atlantic Coast Festival Soloist Competition and competed in the Sperger international double bass competition.
Recently, Joseph took some private classes, (masterclasses), including with Alois Posch in Vienna at the (famous) University of Music and Performing Arts and went to see the Staatsoper. He has also played with some of London's best orchestras, including the LPO, and gave a masterclass in the United states for the ISB, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, to orchestral professionals and advanced conservatoire students, (preparing for professional orchestral auditions).
Joseph has been teaching music, since he was 14, starting as an apprentice, for Exeter Young Strings, in Devon, and then soon went on to teach private students, including in (the traditional) conservatoire setting, including at Junior Guildhall, CYM, as an apprentice teacher, for many years, while completing his undergraduate studies.
Recently, Joseph has taught private students, and in some of London's music hubs and in schools. For Pelican, Joseph is hired as a Musical Explorers teacher, which is a new challenge, but Joseph is particularly proud to help introduce young people to music.