Described by Paris Move as "an artist with vision, with something to say, and with the skill to say it beautifully," and by Something Else! webzine as "An immensely talented Asian-Canadian pianist, educator and composer like Peter Hum," Joshua Banks (he/him) is an Asian-Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ pianist and music educator from Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton), Alberta.
He began his musical journey in classical piano, achieving a Level 10 certification with the Royal Conservatory of Music, and has since graduated with distinction from MacEwan University’s BMus in Piano Performance, with an additional diploma in Recording & Production. He has taken lessons with local piano luminaries as Chris Andrew, Stephanie Urquhart, Mboya Nicholson, and Bianca Baciu.
Joshua has studied piano for over a decade, and has experience performing in a variety of genre contexts, most notably jazz. He has performed with the Edmonton Jazz Orchestra (EJO), performed at JazzYYC’s “Tune In - Tune Up” conference celebrating gender justice in jazz, and performed his original contemporary jazz compositions at the Edmonton International Jazz Festival. Joshua can be found freelancing and recording around Edmonton, and has performed in such venues such as the Yardbird Suite and Winspear Centre.
Joshua is an enthusiastic music educator/speaker. He has taught students hailing from all around Canada, including Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Nunavut, both in-person and online. Mentoring at the TD Music Artist in Residency at MacEwan University program, he has led seminars offering counsel to artists on the subject of musician’s mental health, organization, and time management.
In his spare time, Joshua enjoys creating visual art, performing stand-up comedy, Dungeons & Dragons, puzzles, and watching "Survivor."
Today, much of Joshua’s current work centers around his passions for performance, private instruction, and education, as well as composition and notational services. His debut album, "Para Sayo" received joint grant funding from the Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) and Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA), and released in May 2025. He currently works to complete his performer’s ARCT with the Royal Conservatory of Music.
*Joshua would like to acknowledge that his career in playing Black American Music is possible because of the Black musicians that have and continue to pave the way for all jazz musicians. He acknowledges and is grateful for the privilege that has allowed him to practice and enjoy the music of this African-American cultural tradition.
