Richard Kearns serves as Percussion Director at Burleson Centennial High School. Before that, he was Percussion director at Azle High School.  At Azel, the Drumline and Percussion Section has won numerous awards including Lonestar Classic Champions, NTCA Champions, the 2014 TCGC PSO Champions and were Open Class and World Class Semi-Finalists at the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. Richard’s passion within the activity also goes well beyond just teaching percussion. His abilities as a conceptual and visual designer for Marching Band and Indoor Drumline has turned out many crowd-pleasing productions, including the 2015 WGI PIO Medalist, Vigilantes Indoor Percussion.

Prior to Azle, Richard was the Percussion Director at Palestine High School, as well as Battery/Drumline coordinator at Tyler Jr. College. Upon joining the Palestine Band Staff in 2008, the PHS Percussion Program received numerous awards in the TCGC & NTCA Indoor Drumline Circuits, Lonestar & Plano Drumline Competitions. In 2011, the Palestine Indoor Drumline was the TCGC Open Class Champion. His instructional contributions for TJC helped lead the group to their WGI PIO World Championship in 2008, promotion to WGI World Class, and becoming consecutive Finalists at the WGI World Championships.

Richard attended Tyler Junior College, and was section leader for the TJC Drumline. After attending TJC, Richard continued his studies at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas where his focus was Music Education. Richard’s drum corps performance experience was with the Capital Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps and Magic of Orlando. He later returned to the staff of Capital Regiment as the Snare Technician.

Before teaching full time, Richard was quite successful as a drumset player in Austin, TX. He toured actively in Texas Country Bands, and did many performances with numerous acts at music festivals and studio work.

Richard resides in Azle, with his wife Stacie, and daughter Sam. He is an avid golfer during the band offseasons, and is actively involved in many aspects of the Azle Community.

Richard is proudly endorsed by Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, and Remo Drumheads.