He is also a composer, singer, arranger, choral clinician, writer, producer, music minister, author, and book editor.
He was born to a musical family, the first grandchild to Dalmacio and Felipa Pizaña, who were one of the earliest converts to Evangelical Christianity in the Philippines when the Americans came in 1898.
As a person of faith, he remembers his childhood days when his relatives would often gather to discuss and debate theological issues at the dinner table.
Dr. Isabelo F. Magalit and Filipino cultural anthropologist Dr. Melba Maggay as his early mentors in his Christian faith.
Finding a second home in the friendly airs and artistic endeavors of that city, Joel continued his studies at the University of St. La Salle.
Navarro appeared in the lead role as Francisco Pizarro in the Peter Shaffer play "The Royal Hunt of the Sun" which Gallaga directed.
He had a brief stint in Bacolod working as Research Associate at the Sugar Industry Foundation and as Math instructor at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos.
He became involved with the Ateneo College Glee Club, then conducted by the great Filipino tenor, Noel Velasco.
Feliciano was his composition and theory professor, and later became his administrator when Navarro joined the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music from 1989 to 1995.
Concurrent with his teaching post at the college, he served part-time as Music Minister at Hope Reformed Church, Grand Rapids from 2002 to 2008.
They have three children: Katrina Rachel, a former English teacher, and works currently as a writer and content specialist in the Philippines; Paolo Emmanuel, an environmental graphic arts designer based in Calgary, Alberta (Canada); and Jerome David, a Civil and Environmental Engineering major at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan (U.S.A.).
Navarro earned distinction as a choral conductor during his years with the Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club from 1979 to 2001.
He led the choir in several European choral competitions from 1983 to 2001, garnered many top awards, and gave critically acclaimed performances around the world.
At Calvin University, Navarro also directed the Campus Choir which partners yearly with The Women's Chorale (Pearl Shangkuan, director) in the Advent Service of Lessons and Carols held at the La Grave Christian Reformed Church in downtown Grand Rapids.
From 2003 to 2014, Navarro conducted the annual Handel's Messiah, accompanied by the Calvin Orchestra and which featured professional soloists.
Navarro was an assistant professor and a former chair of the Conducting and Choral Ensemble Department at the University of the Philippines College of Music.
He also had brief several teaching stints at Santa Isabel University, FEBIAS College of Bible, and at the International School Manila.
Navarro also taught for the Bandung Theological Seminary which, in cooperation with SBC, offers the Master of Ministry in Worship and Music Leadership.
At St. Paul University Manila, he helped develop and teaches for the modular program for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting which began in late 2017.
With the help of Filipino scriptwriter Jacqueline Franquelli, the work, entitled SAMBA: Hymns and Songs of Worship, has been completed and is undergoing editing for future publication.
He was Creon in Jean Anouilh's "Antigone" in a play directed by Behn Cervantes, professor of drama and theater at the University of the Philippines.
These include acting stints with Lerner-Loewe's "My Fair Lady," Webber-Rice's "Jesus Christ Superstar," Leonard Bernstein's "Mass," and Schwartz's "Godspell."