
JOE HAMM

Joe's Story
Musician, Citizen Artist, Educator, Composer, and Film Maker, Joe Hamm has dedicated his music career to the dynamic intersection at socially equitable music programming and original music making.
He performs, teaches, records, and writes music for rock, indie, and jazz groups. In 2008 Joe's career skyrocketed with the MTV-U Woodie Award nomination and appearance on the nationally televised show with his band Chasing Arrows at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. That experience lead to a Bronx based management deal with Nicon Entertainment Group and subsequent independently released recordings.
Joe has produced, written, performed, and recorded with Lux Nova, Jake Hull, Junto, and Jonah Ross. Joe has also performed with interdisciplinary ensembles in conjunction with glass artists, DJs, visual artists, and dancers. Soundscapes' recent collaboration with Carnegie Hall and Play USA selected the collective composition "See My Friends Again" which Joe Produced and Co-Wrote alongside student musicians. The song was premiered at Carnegie Hall's In Response virtual concert. The collaboration continues.
Joe has worked with Rey Ramirez and Anne Henry to build Soundscapes, the 4th United States program inspired by the El Sistema philosophy beginning in the fall of 2009 into an internationally recognized leader in the El Sistema movement. Keep reading
MUSICIAN
Music has the power to transport audiences to fantastical worlds, inspire political action, tell stories, and ignite the imagination. I love co-writing, mixing styles, combine and invent instruments, repurpose, blast, sample, drone, belt, and improvise. Reach out! Let's collaborate.
Gallery
![]() Trading with Victor Wooten | ![]() Performing at Virginia Beach |
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![]() 35th Street Stage | ![]() JUNTO Jazz Band |
![]() JUNTO | ![]() Chasing Arrows @ the NorVa |
![]() Back Stage | ![]() Instrumental Conduction |
Featured Video
Trading with Vic Wooten

Joe proudly launched a new studio in 2020 in celebration of 20 years of drumming. The Be Plus Studio is a a generative songwriting hotbed. We write, record, collaborate, and guide musicians to write great music. We're dedicated to the creative music writing process, and growing songs from theme of the imagination to reality.
From in house creations and workshops, to collaborations with partner organizations and recording studios,
the Be Plus Studio is dedicated to making something new. Visit www.BePlusStudio.com.
Educator
Joe's Educational Philosophy
People of all ages, colors, and cultures, deserve the resources and opportunity to develop musical skills and apply them to both interpretive and expressive outlets. Musicians at any stage of growth can learn resilience in the face of failure, and the freedom of experimentation. Intensity, dedication, and fun are major keys to making progress over time. Through the musical practice, students become technically proficient and artistically experienced. Not to mention learning the fraternity of what it means to be a musician.
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Teaching Artist
"A teaching artist is a practicing professional artist with the complementary skills, curiosities and sensibilities of an educator, who can effectively engage a wide range of people in learning experiences in, through, and about the arts." -Eric Booth
It is both a pleasure and my duty to pass on the musical tradition that was passed on to me by my musical mentors. Musicians are a global community, and when we share knowledge and support each other, we all succeed.
Citizen Artist
Citizen Artists’ initiatives place both aspects at the forefront: they are artistically excellent and impact driven, employing artistic innovation to create social or civic impact. Joe has worked to create opportunity for over 1,000 students in his local area, and impacted over 20,000 students throughout the United States through his work with El Sistema USA.
FILM MAKER
Joe's advocacy film work has served to advance Soundscapes' through advocacy and fundraising since 2012, and helped make the story of this innovative non-profit organization accessible to the world. Documentary films are an excellent tool for any individual or organization with a story to tell. Testimonials and footage reveal the authentic perspective of institutions, events, people, and concepts that write the arc of a film.