Joel Ferst
Email: joelferst@gmail.com

Joel Ferst is a saxophonist and educator based in Austin, Texas. He enjoys multifaced career as an educator, performer, chamber musician, and recording engineer. He enjoys performing, and it has taken him throughout the United States, as well as to both France and London. Ferst performs regularly with the Aurochs Saxophone Quartet, in which he plays Baritone Saxophone. He has performed or presented at the North American Saxophone Alliance, Florida Music Educators Association, and Collegiate Band Director National Association conferences.

​Ferst is dedicated to the advocation and performance of new music. He has commissioned and worked with composers such as Susanna Hancock, Issac Barzso, and others. He has also recorded with Density512.

As a researcher Ferst is interested in music pedagogy and use of different teaching philosophies to adapt in his own teaching. He is also interested in the use of nontraditional performance standards to effect audience enjoyment, and the use of syntax in the composition of music in different languages.

Ferst is currently studying at the University of Texas at Austin, Butler School of Music, working on a Master of Music degree in Music Literature and Pedagogy. He previously completed a degree in Music Performance and Music Entrepreneurship at Florid State University. His primary teachers include Dr. Stephen C. Page, Dr. Geoffrey Deibel, Dr. Katherine Weintraub, Martin Wilkes, and William Kennedy.