Joseph and Jacob are brothers who perform together, and they do all those things brothers do. “There’s a lot of arguing, a lot of sidetracking,” Joseph says with a laugh. “Whenever we have a deadline, it’s always last-minute. It’s a little crazy.”

But when show time comes, you’d never guess it. They’re poised and polished. This spring they helped kick off the celebrated Big Ears music festival by performing at the opening ceremony. You can see them firsthand at our recital on May 5 at the Scottish Rite Temple.

The Joy of Music School has been lucky to have them both as students for years. Joseph, now 17 and a senior at Bearden High School, started with piano lessons in second grade. Jacob, 16 and a home-schooled sophomore, began a year later with guitar lessons.

These days Joseph mainly sings. His mother, Dawn, remembers how Joseph tip-toed into his early voice lessons. “He was OK with it as long as he didn’t have to sing in public. It’s kind of ironic at this point. He lives for it now.”

When they’re playing together, Jacob typically sings backup and accompanies his brother on guitar. Or ukulele, or mandolin, or banjo. These days he’s comfortable on just about anything with strings. “Most parents use cell phones as leverage,” says Dawn, “but for me it’s guitars. He knows he’s not allowed to do his homework in his room, because he’ll just pick up one of his guitars…”

The brothers enjoy many musical styles, from show tunes to pop to Southern country gospel. Lately Jacob’s been writing some of his own songs. So what’ll they be playing together at this year’s recital? That’s a “government-security- level secret,” says Joseph.

Is that code for “we’re arguing over what to play”? No, no. They’re just planning it as a surprise for their JoMS instructor, Ashley Costerisan.

 

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