Joel Ritchie is a Melbourne based composer, trumpeter, teacher and producer. Joel’s interest in music began 20 years ago when he started playing trumpet in high school and then went on to complete tertiary studies in classical and jazz music with trumpet being his principal instrument. It was around this time that Joel also took an interest in audio recording, production and technology as well as completing additional studies in classical and 20th Century composition.

After finishing formal studies Joel took part in a number of projects including: co-composing, Nicola Lester, the soundtrack for the award winning 2003 short film ‘Cracker Bag’; playing guitar in rock-punk bands and recording as session trumpeter. 

A new interest in travel and world music was slowly developing and in 2008 Joel packed his trumpet went to the Balkans to do further studies. Over a period of a few months he organised and met with Romani trumpeters in Bulgaria and Macedonia; the self-funded master classes focused mainly on the folk, Roma, Oriental styles of the region. This experience would prove to have a lasting influence on Joel’s musical direction. 

Upon returning to Melbourne several new projects began, one being playing trumpet with a local Balkan brass orkestar ‘Opa’ from 2009-2012. The other being a solo project that combines composition & song writing with world music, sampling and technology; which he currently continues to develop.