Joanna Sternberg is a Jewish singer, songwriter, musician and visual artist born/based in New York City. Sternberg identifies as gender neutral and uses singular they/them/their pronouns. When Sternberg was two, their parents overheard them humming the entire melody to “Oh What A Merry Christmas Day” from Mickey’s Christmas Carol at their Passover seder. They sent Sternberg to piano lessons when they turned five. Sternberg taught themselves how to play the guitar and electric bass when they were 11. Sternberg attended LaGuardia High School of Music and Art. They started studying double bass during their freshman year. Sternberg got a full scholarship to Mannes College of Music and studied classical double bass there for a year and a half. Sternberg decided to leave the school and take a year and a half off. During that year they did nothing but stay in their room and draw comics. Sternberg has been a freelance musician and visual artist since they were 18 years old. Sternberg finished their double bass performance degree at The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music, where they got a full scholarship. When Sternberg was 23, they began writing songs and learned how to sing. At the age of 24, Sternberg started singing in public while accompanying themself on different instruments. Subsequently, Sternberg continues to write songs, sing, play instruments, and create visual art. Sternberg does not like using genres to describe music or art. They also do not like using the word music to describe music, or the word art to describe art. www.joannasternberg.com
