A native of Concord, New Hampshire, Joseph Foley attended Boston University as a Trustee Scholar, where he studied trumpet with Roger Voisin, Rolf Smedvig, and Peter Chapman. There he received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, and was twice named “Outstanding Brass Player”. Other teachers include Arnold Jacobs, Bob McCoy, Vince Penzerella, and James Pandolfi. Foley has since performed in more than a dozen countries on four continents.

Mr. Foley is principal trumpet of the Portland Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, and the chamber orchestra, ROCO. As an orchestral musician, he has also performed and toured with the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Boston Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Ballet of London, and the New York Philharmonic.

An active soloist, he has performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, ROCO, Juneau Symphony, and at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. Recently he was soloist in the world premiere of Harold Shapero’s Trumpet Concerto.

Foley has recorded with the Boston Symphony, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Atlantic Brass, Empire Brass, the Metropolitan Opera Brass, and many others. Nightsongs (Summit Records), a collaboration with pianist Bonnie Anderson, has received critical acclaim.

A highly sought-after chamber musician, Foley is a former member of the Atlantic Brass Quintet, which garnered grand prizes at six international competitions during his tenure. He has also performed with the Boston Symphony Brass Quintet, the Empire Brass, Burning River Brass, ALEA III, and at the Santa Fe, Buzzard’s Bay, and Newport Chamber Music Festivals.

An enthusiastic teacher, Mr. Foley is a clinician for the Conn-Selmer Corporation. He is Professor of Trumpet at Rhode Island College, and serves on the trumpet faculty of Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berkshire Summer Music, and the New England Conservatory Preparatory Division.