Native to upstate New York, Mr. Joe Sipzner began playing the violin at age 9. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Ohio State University, where he was mentored in string pedagogy by Dr. Robert Gillespie. Graduating summa cum laude, he studied conducting with David Becker and Dr. Scott Jones, and served as the Associate Conductor for the Buckeye Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

Prior to working with the musicians of Downing Middle school, Mr. Sipzner taught in Plano ISD as well as in Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, where he received the Elementary New Teacher of the Year Award in 2020 from the Fairfax Orchestra Directors’ Association. Outside of teaching, he enjoys spending time with his wife, cooking new recipes, compositing new music, and going on walks with their foxhound Tabitha.