A musician from the age of five, Joel spent ten years in serious study and practice of music following his graduation from MIT. Sparked by interest in building community through choral singing, in 1997 he entered the New England Conservatory of Music Conducting Program. Studying under Tamara Brooks, Ran Blake, and Hankus Netsky, he received a Master in Music with academic honors in 2001.

In 2003 he formed the community singing group The Loose Canon Chorale, and in 2004, started the annual mass caroling event "The Boston Merry Christmas Caroling Mob". Later in 2005 he started the "Churchless Choir", which garnered both local and national press attention.

Passionate about passionate performance and playful teaching, he has taught elementary, middle ("muddle") and high school music in the Metro Boston area. He currently coaches the Suffolk University Vocal Ensemble, and teaches in Boston Public schools with the Metropolitan Opera Guild Urban Voices program.

He has performed professionally with choirs, a cappella groups, and the occasional jug band in and around Boston. His current trio, The Other Georgia, performs ethnic Georgian music (from the former Soviet republic).