Musician 1st Class Joel Weszka

Clarinet

Musician 1st Class Joel Weszka is a native of Churchville, Maryland. He holds a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Graduate Performance Diploma from Peabody Conservatory, where he studied with Anthony McGill. He pursued further studies at Temple University with Ricardo Morales, and studied most recently with Gi Lee. Weszka also won grants from Temple University and Peabody Conservatory to study abroad with Walter Seyfarth, the late Second and E-flat clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Prior to joining the Navy, Weszka was an active soloist and chamber musician in the mid-Atlantic region. A recipient of the Grace Clagett Ranney Prize in Chamber Music, and winner of the Levine Chamber Competition, his trio was featured at the Kennedy Center's Millenium Stage and the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington, DC. He has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra in Bel Air, MD.

In 2016, Weszka enlisted in the Navy and upon graduation from RTC Great Lakes, reported to the Naval School of Music at JEB Little Creek, VA. His subsequent duty stations include Naval Forces Europe and Africa Band in Naples, Italy, and Navy Band Northwest in Silverdale, Washington. In his time at these stations he served as Unit Leader of the Woodwind Quartet, Quintet, and Trio, Woodwind Section Leader, Administrative Petty Officer in Charge, Fiscal Petty Officer in Charge, Building Manager, Conductor of Ceremonial Band and Wind Ensemble, and as an Assistant in Travel, Public Affairs, and Library. He was selected as Junior Sailor of the Year, Fiscal Year 2022. He holds a secondary Navy Enlisted Classification as a Command Pay & Personnel Administrator, and has been underway aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20).

In 2024, Weszka auditioned and was selected for assignment to the U.S. Naval Academy Band. He reported to Annapolis in September 2024 for duty as clarinet instrumentalist with the marching band, ceremonial units, woodwind trio, woodwind quartet, clarinet quartet and chamber winds.

Weszka's awards include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards) and the Navy Good Conduct Medal (two awards).