Joan began studying piano in Toronto at the age of five with Albert Comer, an organist for several Toronto churches. As a teenager she studied  piano at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music with Earle Moss, internationally respected pianist - teacher and theory with Molly Sclater.  During this time she acted as organist at St. James Presbyterian Church, her family church in the east end of the city. She received her A.R.C.T.  “ Piano-Solo Performer” from the University of Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music. Prior to becoming the organist at Christ Church in 2003 she taught piano and theory and was for four years organist and Director of Music at Holy Trinity in Merrickville.