Joseph Blaha received his doctorate in composition from the University of Oklahoma and is currently an associate professor of music and director of bands at Roanoke College. He has studied composition with Michael Hennagin, Richard Hervig, and Gunther Schuller.

Blaha composes for a wide variety of instruments and a number of his compositions have been commissioned by universities, churches or other organizations. Several of his works have aired on public radio and his music has been performed across the United States and in Europe and South America. Among his award-winning pieces notably The Night Watch was the grand prize winner of the 2000 Michael Hennagin Prize in Composition. His works have been recorded on Albany and Summit labels.

In addition to composing, teaching and directing, Blaha is an accomplished instrumentalist performing regularly on the trombone, bass trombone, euphonium and piano. He studied trombone with John Hill, Irvin Wagner, Leon Brown, Edward Kleinhammer and Ronald Barron. He played euphonium for Karl King for four years and served for five years as a trombonist in The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own." He performs as a jazz pianist in various venues throughout the Roanoke Valley. In 2002, Blaha was inducted into the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association Hall of Fame.