Joel Balzun was born in Calgary in 1990, and started his musical studies with his mother. He attended the University of Calgary, where he studied composition with David Eagle and Laurie Radford, and piano with Charles Foreman and Vladimir Levtov. He now studies music composition at Biola University, under the tutelage of Robert Denham. He has received international recognition for his work, including being an award winner in the Dallas Wind Symphony's 9th annual “Call for Fanfares,” as well as winning first prize in the Classical Marimba League International Composition. His pieces have been read and performed by Alberta Winds, Calgary Civic Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Dallas Wind Symphony, as well as other solo musicians and ensembles in Canada and the USA.