Joseph Harris is a lutenist specializing in historical plucked instruments, with a focus on 17th- and 18th-century repertoire. Based in Oklahoma City, he performs as a continuo player, soloist, and chamber musician, with an emphasis on historically informed performance.
He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University, where he graduated summa cum laude, and a Master of Music in Early Music from the Eastman School of Music, with a specialization in historical plucked instruments. At Eastman, he studied with Grammy Award–winning lutenist and Boston Early Music Festival co-artistic director Paul O’Dette, as well as chamber music coach Christel Thielmann.
Joseph has performed in a wide range of early music settings, including Baroque opera and chamber ensembles. His credits include productions of Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, Campra’s Le Carnaval de Venise, and Rossi’s Orfeo. As a continuo player, he has performed with the Eastman Collegium Ensemble, the Kansas City Baroque Consortium and currently serves as Assistant Principal Plucked String Continuo player with the Oklahoma Baroque Orchestra.
As a soloist, his repertoire includes lute concertos of Johann Ludwig Krebs and solo suites by Sylvius Leopold Weiss, as well as a wide variety of 17th-century French solo lute suites. His work reflects a close engagement with historical sources and performance practice.
In addition to performance, Joseph is active as a researcher and educator. His scholarly work includes research on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s connection to 18th-century lute traditions, for which he received the Oklahoma City University Undergraduate Research Award. He teaches theorbo and Baroque lute and regularly presents university lectures on early plucked instruments and Baroque performance practice.
Joseph has also held leadership roles including Assistant Director of the Oklahoma City University Early Music Ensemble and Vice President of the Lute Society of America, contributing to performance organization, score preparation from primary sources, and initiatives supporting the study and performance of early music.
Apart from his distinguished music career, Joseph has also made significant contributions to his community and has excelled in various artistic endeavors over the course of his life. In 1989, Joseph was honored by the State of Oklahoma when he won the Martin Luther King Day Art Contest, recognizing his commitment to equality, justice, and social change. This prestigious award, presented publicly at the state capitol by then Governor Henry Bellmon, underscores Joseph’s multifaceted talents and his dedication to making a positive impact both in and beyond the realm of music.
Joseph Harris is a lutenist specializing in historical plucked instruments, with a focus on 17th- and 18th-century repertoire. Based in Oklahoma City, he performs as a continuo player, soloist, and chamber musician, with an emphasis on historically informed performance.
He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University, where he graduated summa cum laude, and a Master of Music in Early Music from the Eastman School of Music, with a specialization in historical plucked instruments. At Eastman, he studied with Grammy Award–winning lutenist and Boston Early Music Festival co-artistic director Paul O’Dette, as well as chamber music coach Christel Thielmann.
Joseph has performed in a wide range of early music settings, including Baroque opera and chamber ensembles. His credits include productions of Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, Campra’s Le Carnaval de Venise, and Rossi’s Orfeo. As a continuo player, he has performed with the Eastman Collegium Ensemble, the Kansas City Baroque Consortium and currently serves as Assistant Principal Plucked String Continuo player with the Oklahoma Baroque Orchestra.
As a soloist, his repertoire includes lute concertos of Johann Ludwig Krebs and solo suites by Sylvius Leopold Weiss, as well as a wide variety of 17th-century French solo lute suites. His work reflects a close engagement with historical sources and performance practice.
In addition to performance, Joseph is active as a researcher and educator. His scholarly work includes research on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s connection to 18th-century lute traditions, for which he received the Oklahoma City University Undergraduate Research Award. He teaches theorbo and Baroque lute and regularly presents university lectures on early plucked instruments and Baroque performance practice.
Joseph has also held leadership roles including Assistant Director of the Oklahoma City University Early Music Ensemble and Vice President of the Lute Society of America, contributing to performance organization, score preparation from primary sources, and initiatives supporting the study and performance of early music.
Apart from his distinguished music career, Joseph has also made significant contributions to his community and has excelled in various artistic endeavors over the course of his life. In 1989, Joseph was honored by the State of Oklahoma when he won the Martin Luther King Day Art Contest, recognizing his commitment to equality, justice, and social change. This prestigious award, presented publicly at the state capitol by then Governor Henry Bellmon, underscores Joseph’s multifaceted talents and his dedication to making a positive impact both in and beyond the realm of music.