Joel McNeely was born in the United States. Both Joel's parents had a strong impact on his choice of education. His parents were musicians (not professional) and Joel studied piano, flute and saxophone at an early age. He played in numerous bands as a saxophone player and later he joined the Innerlocken Arts Academy in Michigan. After several years, education at the University of Florida followed, learning to write jazz arrangements.

His start in the music career began in the Eastman school of music, where he applied for a masters degree as a writing major. Soon discovering after years to come, it wasn't easy to get scoring assignments and his sole occupation being a studio musician resulted in a frustrating experience. He then wrote and recorded a demo tape, shiped it to composers and producers and Joel received word of Bruce Broughton, David Shire and Pat Williams. It got him into the Sundance Film Institute in Utah, run by Robert Redford, a place where young composers have the opportunity to meet agents of all the world. It got McNeely into the Television community, Splash Two, Parent Trap III and IV and Tiny Toon series are some of the scoring examples. Nonetheless The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles of George Lucas introduced a new world to McNeely, opening the doors to fame and glory. Iron Will and Terminal Velocity became McNeely's first major gigs and scores such as Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire, Flipper, Soldier, The Avenges and Lover's Prayer, Sally Hemmings brought him into the spotlight of Hollywood. Also credited is his additional work on Goldsmith's Air Force One and Virus, a science fiction horror film.

Recently he scored Peter Pan II and The Jungle Book II, back to Disney I'm afraid. Also he scored James Cameron's TV (Dark Angel) and James Cameron's IMAX (Ghosts Of The Abyss). Mulan II for video release, Disney's Holes, Pooh's Heffalump Movie and Lilo & Stitch 2 are his more recent work. Joel McNeely is also known as an accomplished conductor.

'I always conduct. That's the pay-off of the job, the most rewarding part of it all. After weeks and weeks of sitting in a chair in front of a piano I finally get let out of my cage and I get to stand in front of a ninety piece orchestra to bring the music to life and that's a sheer and utter joy.'

Discography:

Citizen Kane

Dark Angel

Ghosts Of The Abyss

Hollywood 451

Hollywood 94

Hollywood 95

Lilo & Stitch

Mulan II

Peter Pan II

Psycho

Sally Hemmings: An American Scandal

Soldier

Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire

The Avenges

The Jungle Book II

The Last Of The Mohicans

The Three Wolds Of Gulliver

Torn Curtain: The Unused Score

Vertigo

Virus