About Joe Hearson
Conductor, Musical Director, Composer and Educator.
Joe is a conductor, musical director, composer and educator. He is the Founder, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the City of Stoke-on-Trent Symphony Orchestra, Stoke-on-Trent’s first and only professional orchestra.
Born to musical parents in Stoke, his earliest years were spent in performance venues in Staffordshire, where his dad would be conducting musicals and his mum playing with brass bands. Even home life as a child was filled with a cacophony of musical sounds as his parents taught their students. It was inevitable, then, that their musicality would rub off and, by the age of 6, Joe had begun taking piano lessons with his dad.
It was through his parents’ production company that Joe had his first conducting experience, conducting the overture to The Pirates of Penzance and, soon afterwards, the musical Calamity Jane. When his dad passed away following an 18-year-long battle with cancer during the rehearsal period for My Fair Lady in concert at the Victoria Hall, Hanley, it was appropriate that Joe ‘took over the baton’ and conducted the concert. He has never looked back.
Education
Joe trained at the University of Manchester, where he studied conducting with Robert Guy and Mark Heron, gaining a MusB in 2019. During his time at the university, Joe gained a place on the prestigious student conductor programme, giving him regular opportunities to conduct the university symphony, chamber, wind and string orchestras.
In his final year in Manchester, Joe founded The Symphonia Verbum Orchestra. Following his graduation, and with a strong vision of increasing quality music provision and driving cultural renewal in his home city, Joe brought the orchestra back with him to Stoke-on-Trent in 2019, where it was established as the city’s only professional ensemble. As part of the city’s centenary celebrations in 2025, the orchestra was relaunched as the City of Stoke-on-Trent Symphony Orchestra.
Career
With the CSSO, Joe now delivers regular public concerts and presents community education and engagement programmes such as school workshops and relaxed concerts. His direction of the orchestra has so far resulted in the performance of three world premieres, commissioned by the CSSO, as well as the performance of many under-performed pieces – particularly by British composers whose work Joe is particularly passionate about championing.
Joe is one of the Hallé’s choral conductors, working with several workplace choirs. His choirs have twice won the Hallé’d Workplace Choirs Competition. He also works as a guest conductor of community orchestras, and has a good working relationship North Staffordshire Symphony Orchestra. In February 2027 Joe will make his debut with Wrexham Symphony Orchestra.
Joe has been an invaluable asset, demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication both has a teacher and Musical Director, inspiring countless students with his passion and expertise in musical theatre. His ability to connect with learners of all ages and cultivate their talents has significantly contributed to developing the next generation of young performers.”
Jonathan Cliffe
Producer
Stage Productions CIC
Joe is the Founder, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the City of Stoke-on-Trent Symphony Orchestra, Stoke-on-Trent’s only resident professional orchestra. With the CSSO, Joe delivers concerts and presents school workshops and relaxed performances.