Joseph Proud, D.M.A., is an active teacher and performer most recently working in New Haven and Fairfield Counties before moving to Moscow.

As a member of the Proud Duo, Joseph has commissioned works for saxophone and oboe, giving world premieres at the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, the International Double Reed Society Annual Conference in Granada, Spain, and the North American Collegiate Wind and Percussion Instructors Annual Conference in Montevallo, Alabama. In 2016, the Proud Duo were named first place prizewinners of the International Woodwind Duo Symposium's Young Artist Duo Competition at Sam Houston State University in Texas.

As a soloist and as a member of the Proud Duo, Joseph has also given performances and lectures at Temple University (College Music Society Regional Conference), Music School Isidor Bajić in Novi Sad, Serbia, Central Connecticut State University, the Guilford Performing Arts Festival, and many others. Joseph has also performed with the Mobile Symphony, Alabama Symphony, and Hot Springs Festival Symphony Orchestra.

An avid performer of transcriptions, Joseph has created and performed versions of works by Poulenc, Bach, Saint-Saëns, Schumann, and others, and encourages his students to explore repertoire outside of the saxophone canon.

Students of Proud have excelled, winning top positions in regional and all-state festivals in Alabama and Connecticut. He also encourages his students to take part in chamber music, and has started chamber ensembles at Hillcrest High School and Northridge High School. While under his instruction, the Hillcrest Saxophone Quartet was invited to perform at both the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center and the Alabama Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference.

Proud received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Alabama, his Master of Music from Columbus State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Central Connecticut State University. His primary teachers include Jonathan Noffsinger, Joseph Girard, Amy Griffiths, and Carl Knox. He has also studied with Joshua Thomas and Professor Greg Case, both of the Coast Guard Band. In addition to his studies in saxophone, Joseph has studied conducting with Blake Richardson and Lauren Reynolds.