MORE ABOUT JOE
Graduation Date: June 2008
Hometown: Lockport, Illinois
High School: Lockport Township High School
Awards & Achievements:
- Dean's List
- Tutor/teaching assistant for Dr. Jeffrey Wasson, Ph.D.
Campus Involvement:
- Screamin' Demons Pep Band
Current Employment:
- World Class Noise (Chicago's Finest Soul Band)
- Sam Winch's World Famous Lullabadeer Horns
- B.S. Brass Band
- Polykrome Brass
- Freelance film composer and arranger
Joe Clark
Area of Study:Jazz Trumpet and Composition
I chose my major because... ever since I was a little kid, it has been my dream to play trumpet and write music, and I have been blessed with the opportunity to follow that dream. I personally cannot think of a more fulfilling or exciting endeavor.
My favorite thing to do on campus is... be with other students, either in class or out. My classmates are very interesting and unique people and often fantastic musicians. I love that in this huge student body that we are all from very different backgrounds and have so many different goals.
The learning environment here at DePaul is... very encouraging. When I decided to go into music, I was often warned of a near-violent level of competition and back-stabbing, but in all honesty I have seen nothing like that in my years on campus. Here, one is congratulated for their accomplishments and supported during times of struggle; it really makes all the difference for me.
The class I most enjoyed here was... the one-on-one lessons with the trumpet and composition faculty. Music can be very demanding and confusing, so there's nothing quite like having someone coaching you along and addressing your specific needs.
When I have free time, I like to… read, watch movies, and eat burritos at Qdoba, a campus favorite. I have only recently started playing racquetball at the Ray Meyer Fitness Center and I wish I had started earlier because it’s a blast.
My favorite thing to do off-campus is... play with my three bands. There is a lot of work for a trumpeter in Chicago and I play in three very different groups: the B.S. Brass Band is a New Orleans brass band, World Class Noise is a funk and soul band, and Sam Winch leads an indie circus rock band (yes, circus rock).
One thing I didn’t know about DePaul before coming was... how easy it is to get around Chicago from campus. Both Lincoln Park and the Loop are near multiple train and bus lines. It has been my experience that from campus, you can usually get to the far north or far south sides (or even the suburbs) in under an hour.
The DePaul University School of Music appealed to me as a student and as a musician because... in addition to the very supportive student attitudes, DePaul provides a wonderful network for finding work in Chicago. The soul band I play in, World Class Noise, was founded by DePaul graduates and in the last 14 years has hired dozens of DePaul musicians. Even members of the music faculty have helped me begin the networking that is so important to a career in music.
The benefits of attending an urban university when it comes to performance are that... there are so many places to play. I have played at Symphony Center, Millennium Park, Hot House, The Jazz Showcase, The House of Blues, Lollapalooza, The Museum of Contemporary Art, U.S. Cellular Park, Wrigley Field and Navy Pier. I get a huge rush every time I’m in front of a crowd, and since this is such a big city, the crowds are out there and very receptive. Conversely, more often I play at smaller venues like clubs or at local schools, and there is always something nice about being in a more intimate setting.
My greatest success as a student here has been... playing with jazz legends Wynton Marsalis, Phil Woods, and Jim McNeely in the best venues in Chicago while in the award winning DePaul Jazz Ensemble. After spending my life listening to the masters, it’s a dream come true to play with and learn from them — let alone record CDs with them!
After graduation, I plan to... continue on the path I am on now: working freelance in Chicago and Los Angeles, playing music and composing for films. Eventually, I would love to get my master’s degree and a Ph.D. in music and become a full-time professor of musicianship and aural skills.
The one thing I’d like to say to students considering DePaul... is that DePaul has a rich history that has established a reputation of quality and integrity. Even now, before graduating, I am seeing the benefits of being able to say I am from DePaul University and I anxiously await to see what happens when I can say I am a DePaul graduate.
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