Joshua Steele

Joshua didn't discover his destiny as a banjo player until later in life, but once he did, he set out to fulfill this destiny with a seemingly endless well of energy and enthusiasm. As a lifelong self-taught musician, Joshua has played in a wide variety of contexts. From piano concertos, to jazz quintets, to punk rock clubs, all the way up to sharing a stage with Béla Fleck and 100 banjo players for a performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, he remains immersed in a vibrant music community.

A long and winding journey through the United States, including lengthy stints in New Mexico and Colorado, led Joshua to the mountains of Western North Carolina in 2020, where he discovered the banjo shortly after the birth of his second daughter, River. The banjo quickly took over his musical life and, after the pandemic shutdowns lifted, Joshua found himself performing throughout the southeast as a professional banjo player.

These days, Joshua lives in the mountains with his wife, two daughters and cats. He remains busy recording and performing as a soloist, and with several acts, including J.D. Pinkus, Crystal Fountains, and a new ska/reggae band called Heavy Lifters. Joshua also teaches banjo, guitar, and piano lessons both locally and virtually.

Joshua's teaching philosophy is centered around a love of music and a strong desire to help students connect with their instrument through a consistent feeling of joy and excitement. Joshua teaches a variety of musical instruments, including banjo, guitar, piano, bass guitar, and percussion. Students of all ages and skill levels are welcome!