I write music for solo performers and small ensembles. I am most experienced with accoustic instruments: strings, woodwinds, piano, percussion, and many other appliances of sound. I’ve done some electronic work and am interested in doing more in the coming years.

I’ve worked with choreographers and art galleries. I’ve composed original pieces for weddings, yoga class series, and rock shows.

An area of specialty for me is musical portraits: works that celebrate and invoke the life and personality of an individual person. Listen to Amane and Morika (in the playlist below) to hear what that might sound like.

Please reach out to me if you’d like me to put something together for you.
hello@joehay.com

Works

The Shrine at Twilight	piano solo	July 2026	Portland, OR
Tamaki 環季 The Cycle of Seasons	string quartet	October 2025	Portland, OR
Perseverance (Innae)	piano solo	July 2025	Portland, OR
Morika 森香 The Scent of the Forest	flute, violin, viola, cello	December 2019	Santa Fe, NM
The Root Takes Hold	string quartet	December 2018	Denver, CO
Avery + Danica	two violas	June 2015	Albuquerque, NM
Akh	viola and electronics	April 2015	Albuquerque, NM
Icarus Kept Flying, with Issa Malluf and Dave Hoover	viola, riq, daf, electric harp	March 2015	Albuquerque, NM
Vessel	assorted vocalists, actors and musicians	April 2015	Albuquerque, NM
Tango Luna y Sol	violin, viola, cello, accordion	December 2014	Albuquerque, NM
Amane 雨音 The Sound of Rain	clarinet, cello	September 2014	Albuquerque, NM
New Moon Ember	piano solo	September 2014	Albuquerque, NM
Pink Lotus	viola, percussion	April 2014	Albuquerque, NM
Anahata // Unstruck	harp solo	April 2014	Albuquerque, NM
Standing Caravan, with Rev Le Rev	viola, didgeridoo	February 2014	Albuquerque, NM
Wood Horse	violin, piano	February 2014	Albuquerque, NM
Submergence Elegy	oboe, viola	November 2013	Albuquerque, NM
Jökull (Glacier)	two violas	September 2013	Albuquerque, NM