Biography

Joshua Burel’s work with underrepresented composers and social justice issues has been recognized by the Theodore Presser Foundation for his project "Czech Composers and the Holocaust" and the University of Alabama in Huntsville for his work "Grażyna Bacewicz: Analysis Showcasing Contributions of Female Composers."

His compositions have been performed throughout the United States including concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, National Sawdust, the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival in Washington, the University of Tennessee Contemporary Music Festival, the Biennial Festival of New Music hosted by Florida State University, the International Double Reed Society Symposium, festivals with the International Clarinet Association, the Constellation Concert Series at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the Shepley Concert Series in St. Louis, MO, and regional and national conferences by the Society of Composers, Inc. to name a few.

Joshua has collaborated with ensembles throughout the country including the Huntsville Symphony, Huntsville Youth Orchestra, Orchestra Sul Ponticello, What Is Noise, Three Reeds Duo, Rintrah Duo, Elicio Winds, Vuorovesi Trio, Konza Wind Quintet, Tennessee Valley Woodwind Quintet, Shred Trio, and Coreopsis Quintet among others. Many of Joshua’s works have been nationally recognized by The American Prize including 3rd prize for Elegy: Beneath the Peddler’s Moon and National finalist for Roanoke, A Winter’s Tale, Blue Means Water, and Escaping. His work Rumpelstiltskin was featured in the video “Music Tells A Story” by violinist Megan Sahely from a grant from the Leon County Libraries in Florida. His work Escaping for SATB choir was included in a workshop about new music collaborations in the classroom at the 2019 College Music Society National Conference. He is the winner of the 2020 Alabama Music Teachers Association’s State Commission Award for his work Bone Music.

Joshua was one of five winners of the Ninth New Ariel Composition Competition for solo piano, and his work Shifting Dance No. 1 is featured on Jeffrey Jacobs’ album Contemporary Eclectic Music for the Piano, Vol. 26. Joshua’s piece Voyage appears on the Elicio Winds Trio’s album Convergence: Music & Cultural Legacy, which was submitted for Grammy consideration by Sergei Kvitko and Blue Griffin Records. Blue Griffin is also producing two upcoming albums featuring Joshua’s music: Defensive Masquerade with the Vuorovesi Trio (anticipated Summer 2025), and Andooni with clarinetist Osiris Molina and the University of Alabama String Quartet. Joshua’s work Roanoke is featured on Equivocal Duration, the debut album by What Is Noise, released on Centaur Records. Their forthcoming sophomore album, Temporal Echoes (anticipated Fall 2025), will feature his composition of the same name.

Joshua completed his Doctor of Music degree in Music Theory and Composition at Florida State University and completed his Master of Music degree in Composition and his Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance and Music Education at Western Michigan University. He studied composition with Ladislav Kubik, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, and C. Curtis-Smith, and violin with Benjamin Sung, Renata Artman Knific, Amanda Walvoord Dykhouse, and Ellen Rizner. He has held faculty positions at Webster University in St. Louis, MO, and the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. He currently serves as Chair and Associate Professor of Music Theory and Composition in the Department of Music, Theatre, and Film at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he received the University Distinguished Teaching Award in 2023.