Biography
Joi Harper is a composer, vocalist, and teaching artist based in Boston, Massachusetts whose music explores the world around us and the unique experiences that shape who we are. With a rich musical background, Joi brings a wide range of styles into their compositions, drawing inspiration from the sounds they grew up with and the vast musical landscape we all share.
Joi’s musical journey started young, with piano, clarinet, and violin lessons that eventually led her to discover her passion for voice. Even as a kid, she was writing songs for her family by age eight. That early love for songwriting naturally grew into a broader curiosity for composing and all the creative possibilities it offered.
Today, Joi’s work spans choral music, chamber pieces, and songs. One of her recent large-scale works, Soul Food: Exploring the Black Experience through Inherited Traditions for Modified Pierrot Ensemble, highlights themes of heritage, culture, and social experience—a reflection of her overarching artistic vision. Joi’s music has been shared on national stages like the American Choral Directors Association National Conference and has reached international audiences in Nairobi, Kenya. Joi’s received commissions from groups like Castle of Our Skins, Brookline Public Schools, and ensembles such as the Young Artist Chamber Music Initiative and Chroma Collective. Her music has also been performed by groups like the Transient Canvas, Nairobi Chamber Chorus, George Mason University Chorale, and Longy School of Music’s Ensemble Uncaged.
Beyond composition, Joi is an enthusiastic teaching artist. She regularly shares her insights as a guest composer and maintains a private studio in voice, piano, and composition. Known for creating engaging, personalized experiences in her lessons and presentations, Joi’s teaching approach fosters a love for music while imparting valuable life skills.
Joi’s unique path in the world of composition drives her to advocate for greater inclusivity within the field, especially for people of color, women, and nonbinary composers. A multi-instrumentalist with an open mind, she’s always been surrounded by a blend of musical genres and different approaches to composing. She believes it’s important to recognize that creativity isn’t limited to one genre—and that, in fact, the best art often blurs boundaries. Joi continues to find ways to weave social justice into her work and loves exploring how music can connect us all.
Joi holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Composition with a Minor in Music Technology from George Mason University and a Master of Music degree in Composition from Longy School of Music of Bard College, where she was awarded both the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Scholarship and the Presidential Scholarship.