Noteworthy

Joe Kelly’s path to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra wasn’t a straight shot—it was a winding journey through jazz, rock bands, and even dreams of conducting. “I started playing music pretty young,” he recalls. “I think I was six when I was gifted an acoustic guitar—a little kid-sized Fender.” For a long time, guitar was his primary focus, and as a teenager, he fronted a band as both the singer and guitarist. But in the background, another interest was quietly growing: percussion.

“I just liked playing all parts of music,” Joe says. “I thought maybe that would mean I’d be a conductor.” A conversation with his band teacher, however, redirected his focus toward a more specific goal—teaching music. To do that, he needed to specialize in an instrument that fit within a band setting, and percussion became the natural choice. “I found a teacher, and it turned out I was a lot better at that than I was at guitar—especially when it came to my work ethic.”

From that point on, percussion took centre stage. Joe pursued his studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, earning both his undergraduate and master’s degrees before completing an artist diploma in Chicago. His path to the TSO included a year with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, and by then, it was clear that an orchestral career was the right fit. “Fortunately, I landed a position in the Toronto Symphony, and it’s been an incredible experience.”

Outside of music, Joe has a passion that captures life from another perspective—photography. What began as a hobby focused on food and cocktails has since evolved into a full-fledged artistic pursuit. “Lately, I’ve been shooting film with fully analog cameras from the early seventies, and I’m hooked,” he says. Whether exploring Toronto’s unique neighbourhoods or capturing his travels, Joe embraces the slow, thoughtful process of film photography. “When I travel, I’ll crank through four or five rolls of film, really trying to capture the essence of where I am.”

Toronto’s vibrant neighbourhoods have provided plenty of inspiration. “I love Little Portugal,” he shares. “It feels interesting, diverse, and youthful, but also has people who’ve lived there for a long time. There’s a cool art and food scene, which makes it an exciting place to explore.”

When it comes to percussion, Joe is fascinated by the diversity of instruments and sounds within the orchestra. Among his favourites are the tambourine and its Brazilian counterpart, the pandeiro. “They look kind of similar, but there are some pretty serious differences,” he explains. “What’s cool about the pandeiro is that it almost acts like a drum set—you can get a bass tone, a snare sound, and the jingles give it a hi-hat effect.”

Joe Kelly’s story is one of exploration and dedication. Watch his full story in our Meet the Orchestra series to learn more about his journey, his inspirations, and his passion for music—on and off the stage.