When Joseph Katz was 12 years old, his mom gave him a saxophone. He had never seen one or played one before, but he was excited and joined the 6th-grade band at Arrowhead Elementary in Glendale.
Throughout middle school and high school, Joseph’s passion for music continued to grow exceptionally.
With the support of music directors who recognized his dedication, he joined the honor band, earned scholarships to attend summer music camps and learned to play additional instruments, including the trumpet.
“During that time, I really fell in love with the music community,” Joseph said. “It gave me so many opportunities. You get to perform with students from around the Valley.”
In high school, he learned to play all of the saxophones, though he mainly played tenor in the marching band and picked up the bassoon for the wind ensemble.
After graduation, he was unsure whether he wanted to pursue a career as a performer or teacher. He decided to attend Mesa Community College (MCC), following in the footsteps of his mom and older sister. Soon he discovered the opportunities available and decided to pursue music education.
At MCC, Music Professor Dan Puccio suggested that he play all of the saxophones again. “He kind of told me, being a music educator and a saxophonist, you should learn all of them,” Katz said. “So I started to dive in and get back into alto sax. It was a little bit weird at first, but then I started to apply techniques and skills to my playing and teaching to hone these skills for my future.” Today, he plays soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, along with the flute and clarinet.
It wasn’t long before Joseph was fully immersed in the music scene. He vividly remembers his first MCC concert in 2021. “I went back on stage for the first time after COVID,” he said. “After not being on stage after all these years, my first concert being in the college band was probably one of my best experiences.”
Katz stayed actively involved, performing in the clarinet ensemble, concert band, jazz ensemble, jazz combos, and chamber groups. He also performed at The Nash, worked with MCC’s Performing Arts, worked at Milano Music Center, and joined ASU’s Marching Band community member program for two years.
“One of my greatest achievements was being selected as one of approximately 150 college students nationwide to receive the prestigious Lamond GenNext Award from The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation,” Katz said. “This honor allowed me to attend The NAMM Show 2025, where I connected with industry professionals, innovators and artists from around the world.”
Katz credits Puccio for helping make that experience possible. “I didn't have the money as a college student,” he said. “I couldn't afford to travel to Anaheim, but he told me about the scholarship.”
The conference offered valuable insight into the music industry. “It's a really cool insight as a student in the college world to be invited out to this,” Katz said.
Katz also credits MCC Music Professor Paul Brewer for helping him grow as a performer. “He taught me how to improvise better and encouraged me to get involved in different groups,” Katz said. “He's a great human to just talk to in the office and he's just really helped me become a better person.”
Reflecting on his time at MCC, Katz emphasized the importance of community, “MCC helped me reconnect with a strong community of musicians and artists,” he said. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me the confidence to grow both personally and professionally. The music program didn’t just teach me concepts, it showed me how to carry those skills into real classroom and performance settings, shaping how I teach, perform and engage with others today.”
He added, “It's really the connections you make that make an impact with you. Once you open up and get to know your community, it really helps with your education and career.”
Katz graduated in Fall 2025 with an Associate in Arts, Fine Arts, Emphasis in Music and a General Education certificate. He is now pursuing his bachelor’s degree at Ottawa University and plans to become a middle school teacher for the Tempe and Mesa School Districts.
In the meantime, he’s already giving back by tutoring middle school students and helping them discover their own passion for music.