Bio : Artists

Joy Branagan : Horn

Joy Branagan has just finished her second season as Second Horn of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in British Columbia, Canada.  Outside of the orchestra, Joy has performed with the Vetta Chamber Players, Vancouver Brass Project, and is looking forward to performing with Chamber Music Kelowna in 2012. Originally from Marietta, Georgia, she has a degree in Music Education from The University of Georgia and a Master of Music in Orchestral Performance from Manhattan School of Music.  Her teachers were Jean Martin-Williams and Erik Ralske.  While still a student in New York, Joy began playing professionally as Fourth Horn with the Albany Symphony, Third Horn with the New Haven Symphony, and as a substitute with the New Jersey Symphony.  Upon raduation, she won a position as Second Horn with the San Antonio Symphony, where she played for five years.  In 2003, Joy moved to Washington, D.C., to begin a freelance career.  She joined the Richmond Symphony in 2005 as Second Horn, while also performing with notable orchestras in the area including the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony, and the orchestra of the Washington National Opera.  In 2005, Joy was invited to perform as guest solo artist with the Cobb Symphony Orchestra in her hometown of Marietta, Georgia.   In addition to Eastern Music Festival, Joy has been on the faculty of Bar Harbor Brass Week since 2006.  Joy has also been on the faculty of St. Mary?s University in San Antonio, Texas and Towson University in Towson, Maryland.