Joe Barna is a Drummer/Composer/Bandleader originally from Troy, NY whose passion and dedication to music have taken him around the world. He is a former student of SCCC in Schenectady, NY and holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from SUNY Purchase in Westchester, NY.

Joe spent his first 4 years of college focused on classical percussion and performance before transferring to the music conservatory at Purchase in 1999. While at Purchase, he had the privilege to study with jazz greats the likes of Jon Faddis, Hal Galper, Adam Nussbaum, John Riley, Todd Coolman and Ralph Lalama. In 2004, he received his BFA in Jazz Studies with a focus on drumset performance & composition.

Some of the outstanding performers Barna has had the honor of playing with include: 3 time Grammy Award winners The Celtic Tenors, 7 time Grammy Award recipient Gary Smulyan, world renowned classical violinist Peter Fisher and 4 time Grammy Award recipient Ralph Lalama.

Other notable performances have been with Joe Magnarelli, Dick Oatts, Joel Frahm, Jon Gordon, Lee Shaw, Grant Stewart, Jim Rotondi, Keith Pray, Charlie Sigler, George Muscatello, Jerry Weldon, Stacy Dillard, Jon Elbaz, Matt Garrison, Victor Gould, Lee Russo, Bryan Patneaude, The Big Soul Ensemble and his own original band Sketches Of Influence.

Joe has taken his passion and talent abroad to Canada, Australia, Russia, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, New Zealand, Dubai UAE, Turkey and Egypt. In addition to performing in these destinations he has also traveled across the United States and through the Caribbean Islands. In 2013, Barna also performed around the coasts of Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti and New Caledonia.

In addition to his above credits, Joe has recorded on over 10 albums as a sideman and has 6 albums as a bandleader. His most recent effort, The Heights (2023), is dedicated to his daughter Savina Jewel Barna.