Joe Proud is a saxophonist, teacher, and arts administrator.

As one half of Proud Duo, Joe has commissioned new works for oboe and saxophone and given world premieres at many conferences, including the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference, the International Double Reed Society Annual Conference, the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors Conference, among others. In 2016, the duo won first prize in the International Woodwind Duo Symposium’s Young Artist Duo Competition at Sam Houston State University.

For three years, Joe taught the Jazz Band at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, and performed throughout the region. In addition, Joe has performed and lectured at Temple University (College Music Society Regional Conference), Music School Isidor Bajić in Novi Sad, Central Connecticut State University, the Guilford Performing Arts Festival, among others. He has played with the Mobile Symphony, the Alabama Symphony, and the Hot Springs Festival Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared as a soloist with the University of Alabama Huxford Symphony Orchestra and the CCSU Sinfonietta. A dedicated arranger, he has created and performed transcriptions of works by Bach, Schumann, Saint-Saëns, Poulenc, and others.

Alongside his musical work, Joe has built a career in arts and higher education fundraising, most recently as Director of Development at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and previously in development roles at the University of Idaho.

He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Alabama, a Master of Music from Columbus State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Central Connecticut State University. His principal teachers include Jonathan Noffsinger, Joseph Girard, Amy Griffiths, and Carl Knox. He has also studied with Joshua Thomas and Greg Case of the U.S. Coast Guard Band, as well as conducting with Blake Richardson and Lauren Reynolds.