Bio

In the beginning…

From an early age, music was my greatest interest. I discovered a love for piano tinkering away on my great-grandmother’s little Casiotone CT-380. I began piano lessons at the age of six and studied a wide variety of genres such as classical, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, and ragtime.

Education

After graduating from High School, I received a music scholarship to Luther College in Decorah, IA, and began my undergraduate degree in 2016. In the Spring of 2020, I received a Bachelor of the Arts (B.A.) Degree in Music with a focus in piano performance. Throughout my degree I also worked as a collaborative pianist.

Following my undergraduate degree, I received a Teaching Assistantship (T.A.) in Collaborative Piano to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In the Spring of 2023, I will graduate with a Master of Music (M.M.) Degree in Collaborative Piano.

Abbey Road Studios

In the summer of 2018, I began writing virtuosic piano arrangements of secular music. My version of “Footloose,” by Kenny Loggins, caught the attention of Lucy Hewes, choir leader for Rock Choir Reading, Henley, and Bracknell & Ascot in England. Lucy asked to adapt my arrangement into an accompaniment part and to join her at Abbey Road Studios.

One of the producers of the session was Kipper, a British Grammy Award-winning guitarist, keyboardist, and record producer, who has worked with such artists as Gary Numan and Sting. Having the opportunity to create music in the same studio as legends like John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and the Beatles was a truly humbling experience.

“Joshua is a gifted and authentic musician. Working with him at Abbey Road was a joy. His originality, willingness to listen, and wonderful facility will see him being a true artist of the future.” - Kipper

Composer

I have always enjoyed listening to film and video game soundtracks more than popular music. Composers like John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Thomas Newman, and Joe Hisaishi have had a tremendous influence on me.

In the summer of 2022, I composed the score for “Stuck At Midnight,” a short film by Hannah McIntyre. “Misty Valley” was a score I submitted to the July 2022 Composing Competition, hosted by Ryan Leach. I also wrote a score for the Bridgerton Scoring Competition 2022 by Spitfire Audio, hosted by Kris Bowers.

“If you are looking for a score that captures the emotion of each moment in your film, Joshua is your guy. Not only did Joshua capture my musical vision for “Stuck At Midnight,” but he was so adaptable with every tweak and adjustment I wanted. He made me feel like I could ask for any change and he would’ve found a way to make it happen. You better believe this is not the last time I will be working with Joshua Burniece.” - Hannah McIntyre