Joe Beribak

An alumnus of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras, Joe Beribak was born and makes his home in Elgin, IL. After receiving his Bachelor of Music from DePaul University in 2009, Joe earned an Artist’s Diploma from The Colburn Conservatory in 2013. From 2018-2020, Joe lived as a novice in the Benedictine Monastery of the Holy Cross. In the monastery, he studied Gregorian chant in their studium while singing the chants of the Roman rite in daily communal prayer.

Joe is an avid supporter of contemporary music, having performed with Red Fish Blue Fish, Los Angeles Percussion Quartet, Anaphora Ensemble, and Chicago Composers Orchestra. During graduate studies Joe co-founded The Smoke & Mirrors Percussion Ensemble, premiering works by Derek Tywoniuk, Robert Honstein, and Diego Schissi. Schissi’s work Juego de Relojes (Game of Clocks) was recorded on the group’s second album, Vanish. A composer in his own right, Joe’s works have been performed by Smoke & Mirrors Ensemble, Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra Percussion Ensemble, YesterdaysPostFutureNews, Hoffman Estate High School, and trombonist Evan Spacht. “I believe that everyone has a unique voice, and that studying percussion is the start of an incredible journey toward its discovery,” Joe says. He is thrilled to help EYSO’s students realize their potential as musicians and collaborators.”