About Joe Wright

Joe Wright is a music teacher, specializing in band at Upper Elementary School in Belmont, MA, since September of 2020.

He spent nineteen years in a variety of roles, but mostly band, in the Andover, MA public schools.  He taught band from grades 4-12, elementary and middle school general music, and high school chorus. He directed several level of jazz bands, was music director for high school drama guild productions, and directed four musicals at one of the three middle schools.

He spent nine years at Boston University, beginning with a master's program in music education, and leading to an opportunity to direct several university bands, teach courses in music education, and coordinate the practicum program for music education students.  Over the course of that time, he also taught music in early childhood program in the BU/Chelsea Schools partnership, taught music classes at Boston University Academy, and coordinated the Young Artists' Orchestra for the BU Tanglewood Institute.  He was privileged to have studied tuba with Sam Pilafian while at BU.  He was inducted into Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Pi Kappa Lambda honor societies.

His first teaching position was for four years in the public schools of Waterville, ME, where he led bands for grades 5 through 12, including jazz bands and the high school's marching band.

He received his Bachelor of Music from the University of New Hampshire in 1988, where he studied tuba with Nicolas Orovich.  He played in the Wind Symphony, Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, chamber ensembles, marching band (including two seasons as drum major), and was music director for two productions of the Theater Department.  He served as a Resident Assistant, and is a brother of Phi Kappa Theta.  He holds a CAGS (certificate of advanced graduate study) in Educational Leadership at Fitchburg State University.

He is a member of the Gateway City Orchestra, the Central Mass Brass, Clan MacPherson Pipes and Drums, and the Fitchburg State University Band.

He grew up in Maine, and throughout school was active in music, drama, history, and athletics.  He attended the Cape Elizabeth Schools through 8th grade, and graduated from York High School in 1984.

Joe lives in Fitchburg, MA with his wife, Amy McGlothin, who is a saxophonist, conductor, and professor of music at Fitchburg State University. His son Malachy is a restauranteur in Bedford, MA.