ABOUT


Based in London Joe works as a freelance Arranger, Producer, Educator, Musician and Music Director with production companies and arts colleges around the world. Most recently he has been working with Cirque du Soleil (Alegria Tour), Jersey Boys (West End & UK Tour), Italia Conti, The Urdang Academy, Headliners Theatre Company, ICMT (International College of Musical Theatre)MX Masterclass and Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts.

As an arranger and orchestrator Joe produces charts, backing tracks and click tracks for cruise lines, holiday parks, theme parks and cabaret entertainers as well as colleges, choirs and vocal ensembles. His charts and production work are heard regularly in venues across both sides of the Atlantic. As an educator Joe has a handful of piano students and for 4 years taught Singing and Musical Theatre at several London colleges/universities. Many of his students have gone on to work with UK theatre tours, cruise lines, or in the West End.

As a piano/keyboard player, Joe is currently on tour with Cirque du Soleil. In 2022/23 he was playing on Jersey Boys and between 2011-2018 he worked as Music Director, Bandleader and Musician across various cruise lines including Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Holland America and P&O Cruises. For two years he performed with Las Vegas based production company Legends In Concert on board NCL’s biggest ship, Norwegian Epic, and has worked with various production companies in Minnesota, USA as orchestrator and Music Director on projects including improv-based comedy productions and original musicals.

Joe trained in Pop Music & Jazz at the University of South Wales, Film Scoring at the University of Bristol, and then in Music Directing for Musical Theatre at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.


ARRANGEMENTS

CHARTS

Joe uses Finale, Sibelius and Dorico to produce custom charts/arrangements for all kinds of ensemble. The following scores represent examples of some recent projects.

BACKING TRACKS

Joe uses a combination of midi sequencing and live recording to produce bespoke, high-quality backing tracks on any budget.

These backing track demos are all custom arrangements recorded and produced for specific projects.

  • Mega Mix - Oceania Cruises (Production Show)
  • https://www.futureproofsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Ocean-Bar-BW-Cropped-Small.jpg
  • ALL CATEGORIES
  • https://www.futureproofsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Megamix-Website-Demo.mp3
  • George Michael Medley (Pop)
  • https://www.futureproofsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Ocean-Bar-BW-Cropped-Small.jpg
  • ALL CATEGORIES
  • https://www.futureproofsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/George-Michael-Medley-Website-Demo.mp3
  • Stick It To The Man (Rock)
  • https://www.futureproofsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Ocean-Bar-BW-Cropped-Small.jpg
  • ALL CATEGORIES
  • https://www.futureproofsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/StIck-It-To-The-Man-Website-Demo.mp3
  • The Laughing Song (Orchestral)
  • https://www.futureproofsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Ocean-Bar-BW-Cropped-Small.jpg
  • ALL CATEGORIES
  • https://www.futureproofsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/The-Laughing-Song-Website-Demo.mp3
  • Original Jelly Roll Blues (Old Vinyl)
  • https://www.futureproofsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Ocean-Bar-BW-Cropped-Small.jpg
  • ALL CATEGORIES
  • https://www.futureproofsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Original-Jelly-Roll-Blues-Website-Demo.mp3

PROJECT VIDEOS

Make Our Garden Grow – RCS 2021
Arranged, Conducted & Produced by Joe Starr

I Got You – MX Masterclass 2022
Arrangement & Backing Track by Joe Starr

COMPOSITION


All of the following compositions have been recorded using live musicians, midi-sequencing, or a combination of both.

CONTACT


Please feel free to get in touch – I’d love to hear from you!