Joel Negus was born and raised near Chicago, IL in a very musical family.  He always he knew he would be a musician and over time chose classical music to be his focus.  Although he specialized in many different styles (especially jazz), Joel moved to Cleveland to attend the Cleveland Institute of Music.  While at school, he was a member of the first international Youtube Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas and was a fellow at the Music Academy of the West.  After finishing up at CIM, Joel decided to stay in Cleveland and started his business, Negus Music, which seeks to bring the beauty of music to a broken city.  Joel is also the music director at Gateway Heights Church in Cleveland Heights.  He happily lives in the Heights with his wife Allison and their two kitties.