Artists Registry

Opening Remark
Hello, my name is Joe Dundore and I have been an instrumental and general music teacher for 7 years now in the Carroll County Maryland Public School System.

In September of 2010 I started what later became, the JoeyDCares Rock Orchestra, a community band that raises money or awareness for charity including kids from 5th-12th grade, parents, professionals and myself as director. Every week I write what we call, “Sunday Email”, which includes noteworthy topics of discussion such as upcoming gigs, ideas and thoughts for the band, homework, even what to wear at gigs! On the 10th anniversary of 9/11 I wrote the below statement in my email that week.

This music was written when I was 16-22 years old. Some changes were made to songs I wrote before 9/11 to make it fit for 9/11, while others were inspired and created as a result of 9/11. I wrote all parts for all instruments, and played soprano and alto saxophones on the tracks. I also organized all musicians, the recording studio, and the concert!

To learn more about the JoeyDCares Rock Orchestra, please visit: www.JDCRockOrchestra.org

Thanks for taking the time to read, view and listen to my gallery!

Remembering 9/11 - My Story
So I couldn’t let it pass without mentioning how it affected me. I’m not going to go into where I was at the time and what I was doing but I want to tell you about what I did. It was probably the first time that I tried to make a real difference in the world. It was going to be something real, something you could touch.

I knew that I had to do something. I couldn’t just sit around and wait. A lot of people did a lot of things; fundraisers, joined the military, I was going to create a concert.

It was something I slaved over day into late night for a long time until its performance May 11th 2002.  (The day after which was my graduation ceremony in Boston at the Berklee College of Music.) 

I tried to create all the things that JoeyDCares does now, T-shirts, posters, the merchandise. Also, writing the music, finding the musicians, getting in touch with press, making programs on and on. I even snail mailed about 100 celebrities including Bill Cosby, James Earl Jones, and Billy Joel but heard nothing back except from Diana Krall who’s publicist wrote a letter stating that she couldn’t make it because she was touring in Europe.

I wrote original music with lyrics about 9/11 and NYC including “For the Heroes”, “The New York Beat”, “Our Home” and others. I also created skits, had actors, dancers and of course a band. The band wasn’t have as good as you guys are, but we did what we could.

(The CD was titled, Joey Dundore and Penn Manor High School Present: A Tribute To The Victims of September 11th and the CD is still here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dundore)

We made press in the local paper and television station. We hosted the concert at my high school alma mater, which was like pulling teeth to use their auditorium. (One of the reasons why I can more deeply appreciate being under FARC’s wing now with the ability of using their facilities.) As much as I thought I was doing something good, there were a bunch of people who didn’t support me on the whole thing. As if what I was doing was bad. (Or maybe I just didn’t earn their respect) But those who did support me did a great job, and I can’t thank them enough for their help!

When all was said and done we (although it felt more like I) raised about $500 for the Women and Children of New York City Fire Fighters Fund. With the work that I put into it, the difficulty I had to get it to happen (I’ve never heard so many people tell me to just cancel the show, and good try (but I am too stubborn to quit)), and the feeling of not raising as much money as I had hoped, I felt so disappointed. Couldn’t I have raised more than $500 for all of the work I put in? I could have just worked as a busboy (one of my previous jobs) for a few weeks and raised the same amount. Was it really worth it?

(Side Note - I know how much work it took that year to raise $500. This is why I can’t help but get a little teary eyed when I think that we raised $2500 in a 2 hour concert on June 11, 2011. I additionally feel this way when thinking that all of the “no’s” I got from the 9/11 concert started turning into “yes’s” when I met you guys for JoeyDCares :)

I just put the whole thing behind me and moved on, keeping in my mind that I did do a pretty cool thing and it meant something to somebody. But I couldn’t help but think, “Why did this happen? Will something happen in my future that legitimizes all of the work that I did?”

It did devastate me to the point of just dropping the idea of helping people through music. I started teaching private lessons, then public school and it wasn’t until my students told me to go on America’s Got Talent that I stopped being a dork and got over the disappointment I felt from the 9/11 concert.

I soon started JoeyDCares.org and later made one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life, inviting all of you to join me in my charitable giving journey. And things just started to fall into place. All of the no’s from the 9/11 concert, became yes’s, all of the “you can’t do that”, became, “let’s try”, all of the doubt, became hope.

JoeyDCares Rock Orchestra is in full swing and I can't be more proud of the kids, parents and all involved in my dream.

So my September 11th story? I’d like to think that it was the beginning of my long journey into finding you...the light in the firework, the treasure at the end of the rainbow.

Thanks for all of your support these years! I promise I won't let you down :)

Love and Music,
Joey