Horn player for the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra since 2004, Horn Professor at the Puerto Rico Music Conservatory, College and Pre-College levels. Faculty at Clazz International Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy, Brass Coach for the Puerto Rico Youth Symphony Orchestra and Substitute Horn Professor at the Juilliard Pre-College.


He is an active chamber music performer with Camerata Caribe, Café Corta'o Horn Quartet and Pantojazz. Joshua is also a songwriter and the author of the books "From Classical to Jazz an Improvisation Method", "Ornamenting your Improvisation a Guide to Approach Notes", “Chord Tone Arpeggios” and "Basics and Colors - Horn Etudes", the later one commissioned by the Juilliard's Music Advancement Program.


Pantoja has performed Masterclasses at Manhattan School of Music, The Mannes School of Music, The Juilliard Summer Program, Juilliard's Music Advancement Program, Bard College, Montclair University, Delaware University, Shenandoah Conservatory, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, University of Arizona. He was also a guest artist at the Southeast Horn Workshop (2023) at the University of Central Florida. Most recently Prof. Pantoja was on tour in Europe, performing Masterclasses in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, some of the schools and universities were: Frankfurter Bläserchule in Frankfurt, Hochschule für Musik in Hannover,  Hochschule für Musik in Nürnberg, Musik-Kurzwochen in Arosa. Another places Pantoja has performed Masterclasses are National University of Colombia in Bogota, University of Caldas in Manizales- Colombia, University of Eafit in Medellin- Colombia, Puerto Rico Music Conservatory and many different music schools in Puerto Rico; Faculty at the International Horn Festival and Academy in Manizales- Colombia, 2008 and 2009. During pandemic times he performed Online Masterclasses for the University of Panamá, Latino American Horns and Peruvian Horns.


Professor Pantoja began his musical studies at Escuela Libre de Música in Caguas, Puerto Rico at the age of 12, where he received his first French Horn lessons from Professor Jorge Figueroa. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School where he studied with Professor Jerome Ashby and his Master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music with Professor Javier Gándara. Currently he studies Jazz and Improvisation with Professor Julito Alvarado.


 Joshua performs with Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra since 2004 as a member of the horn section. During the summer 2023, Prof. Pantoja was invited to performed Mahler Second Symphony  as part of the horn section of the NDR RadioPhilharmonie in Hannover, Germany. He also has performed with the The Orchestra of the Americas, where he visited countries in Central and South America, Europe and several states of the United States. In 2022 he was guest musician at the Puerto Rico Jazz Jam with the Humberto Ramirez´s Big Band. Other important musical ensembles that he has perform with includes Colombia National Symphony Orchestra, International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico, Camerata Pops, Eafit Symphony Orchestra, Dominican Republic National Symphony Orchestra, American Russian Young Artist Orchestra (2002 Russia and USA Tour), New York Opera Society, Di Capo Opera in NY, Manhattan Virtuosi, Filarmónica Arturo Somoano in Puerto Rico, Caguas Municipal Band, Puerto Rico State Band,  Casals Festival Orchestra, The Juilliard Orchestra, The Juilliard Symphony, Manhattan School of Music Orpheus Institute, Manhattan School of Music Symphony, Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras, Altenburg Music Festival (Germany), Idlyllwild Music Festival (California), The Orchestra of the Americas (2002-04 and 2006), Paquito D'Rivera 50th Anniversary All Stars Concert at Carnegie Hall, VII International Festival of Music and Sacred Art at the Vatican, Rome 2008, World Economic Forum 2010 at Carnegie Hall.     


Married to a beautiful Colombian woman, likes to spend his summers in Colombia. Loves coffee, birds and going to the beach.   

 Biography 

Biografía

Trompista de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico desde 2004 y profesor de
Trompa en el Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico a nivel Universitario y
Escuela Preparatoria. Actualmente es parte de la facultad de Clazz International
Music Festival en Arcidosso, Italia, como profesor de trompa e improvisación,
tallerista de la sección de viento-metal de la Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de Puerto
Rico y Profesor de trompa sustituto en la Escuela Preparatoria de The Juilliard
School.


Es un activo intérprete de música de cámara con Camerata Caribe, Café Corta'o
Horn Quartet y Pantojazz. Joshua se ha destacado por su compromiso de llevar la
enseñanza del jazz e improvisación a los músicos de formación clásica,
motivándolo a publicar diferentes libros como "From Classical to Jazz an
Improvisation Method", libro que está siendo usado en más de treinta paises,
"Ornamenting your Improvisation a Guide to Approach Notes", “Chord Tone
Arpeggios” y "Basics and Colors - Horn Etudes", éste último comisionado por
Juilliard's Music Advancement Program.


Ha realizado Masterclasses en Manhattan School of Music, The Mannes School of
Music, The Juilliard Summer Program, Bard College, Montclair University,
Delaware University, Shenandoah Conservatory, Texas A&M Corpus Christi,
University of Arizona, además fue artista invitado en el Southeast Horn Workshop
que se llevó a cabo en marzo 2023 en la Universidad de Central Florida. Otros
lugares donde ha dictado Clases Magistrales son la Universidad Nacional de
Colombia en Bogotá, Universidad de Caldas en Manizales, Colombia, Universidad
de Eafit en Medellín, Colombia, y múltiples escuelas de música alrededor de todo
Puerto Rico. Fue profesor del Festival y Academia Internacional de Trompa en
Manizales, Colombia, 2008 y 2009. Durante tiempos de pandemia realizó
Masterclasses Online para la Universidad de Panamá, Cornos Latinoamericanos y
Cornos Peruanos.


El profesor Pantoja comenzó sus estudios musicales en la Escuela Libre de Música
en Caguas, Puerto Rico a la edad de 12 años, donde recibió sus primeras lecciones
de trompa con el profesor Jorge Figueroa. Obtuvo su bachillerato en The Juilliard
School donde estudió con el profesor Jerome Ashby y su maestría en Manhattan
School of Music con el profesor Javier Gándara. Actualmente estudia Jazz e
Improvisación con el profesor Julito Alvarado.


Joshua se presenta con la Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico desde 2004 como
miembro de la sección de trompas, fue miembro fundador de The Orchestra of the
Americas, donde visitó países de Centro y Sudamérica, Europa y varios estados de
los Estados Unidos. En el año 2022 participó del Puerto Rico Jazz Jam como parte
del Big Band de Humberto Ramírez. Otros conjuntos musicales importantes con
los que ha actuado incluyen la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia,
International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico, Camerata Pops, Orquesta
Sinfónica Eafit, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de República Dominicana,
American-Russian Young Artist Orchestra (Gira 2002 Rusia-EE.UU.), New York
Opera Society, Di Capo Opera en Nueva York, Manhattan Virtuosi, Filarmónica
Arturo Somoano, Banda Municipal de Caguas, Banda Estatal de Puerto Rico,
Festival Casals, The Juilliard Orchestra, The Juilliard Symphony, Manhattan
School of Music Orpheus Institute, Manhattan School of Music Symphony,
Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras, Altenburg Music Festival (Alemania),
Idlyllwild Music Festival (California), The Orchestra of the Americas (2002-04 y
2006), Paquito D'Rivera 50th Anniversary All Stars Concert en Carnegie Hall, VII
Festival Internacional de Música y Arte Sacro en el Vaticano, Roma, Foro
Económico Mundial 2010 en Carnegie Hall.


Está casado con una bella colombiana, le gusta pasar los veranos en Colombia.
¡Ama el café, los pájaros e ir a la playa!

Latest comments

09.11 | 02:19

Hi Gary,
Hope you are doing well!Looking forward to meet you here in Puerto Rico.On January 28th we are going to have an ET Movie Concert at the new Coca Cola Music Hall in PR.It’s going to be great

07.11 | 20:53

Hi Joshua
I am visiting family in PR around the beginning of February. Are you playing anywhere in late January or early February? Also, what publication or website lists all types of music in town?

24.09 | 20:59

Yes! I am accepting students. I will contact you asap!
Joshua 🙏🏼📯

13.09 | 14:47

I am interested in taking private lessons on the French horn. Are you accepting students? Please let me know
Sincerely Jean luzon

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