Joe McNab grew up in a small mining community near Timmins, Ontario. His earliest musical recollection is listening to his dad playing the piano and singing. Joe took piano lessons starting at age 6 or 7 and hated it. The same with playing the horn in the town band. He can still feel that mouthpiece sticking to his tongue in the Santa Claus parade at minus 20 degrees! He never practised, being more interested in hockey and other sports. Finally at the age of 12, he was led to the 'cello with which he has had a love-hate relationship for 60 years. Through his family string quartet inspired by his dad, and through his perseverance, Joe was introduced to the classics of chamber music even though he struggled without a teacher. His models were old 78 RPM recordings of Mozart and Beethoven quartets and symphonies.

Joe studies in music education, performance and music history have taken him to various places around the country and the US, from Miami to Saskatoon where he participated in various ensembles and taught at several schools and colleges. For fourteen years, his musical activities have been centred in Peterborough where he and his wife Sandy participate in a quartet playing as well as the symphony. Joe says he rarely listens passively to radio or recordings; the orchestra gives him the opportunity to make great music with some fine musicians.