Casey Kirk

Education

• B.Mus.Ed., Mississippi College
• M.Mus., University of Southern Mississippi
• Commander, 41st Army Band, MS Army National Guard

Mr. Casey Kirk is a graduate of Mississippi College, where he obtained his Bachelors of Music Education degree and studied under Dr. Craig Young, and obtained his Master’s of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was a graduate assistant under Dr. Thomas Fraschillo and Dr. John Wooten. He has been admitted to the graduate school at Liberty University where he will begin his Doctorate of Music Education in the fall of 2024.

Mr. Kirk is currently the Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Belhaven University, where he has taught since 2016. He began his teaching career in 2004, and spent 12 of those years teaching in secondary schools in Virginia and Mississippi. Under his direction, his bands consistently achieved superior ratings in both marching and concert band.

He holds a Mississippi Teaching License in both Instrumental Music Education and Social Studies. Currently Mr. Kirk teaches all Instrumental Music Education Courses, from pedagogy, to methods and conducting, as well as directing the Blazers Band and Wind Ensemble.

Mr. Kirk also serves the state and the nation as the Commander for the 41st Army Band of the Mississippi Army National Guard, where holds the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3. He enlisted into the Army in April of 2007 as a Specialist before obtaining the rank of Sergeant, when he was selected to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School and become the commander of the 41st Army Band. Under his direction, the 41^st Army Band has developed a reputation as one of the finest National Guard Bands in the nation. His unit has performed and traveled from one side of the nation to the other, as well as assisted in national emergencies.

Mr. Kirk is a graduate of the US Army’s Basic Combat Training, Warrior Leadership Course, Warrant Officer Candidate School, and the Army School of Music’s Basic Music Course, Warrant Officer Basic and Advanced Course. He has been awarded the Mississippi Medal of Efficiency, the Mississippi Longevity Award, the Mississippi Emergency Services Award, the Armed Forces Reserve Commendation Award, the Army Commendation Award with an oak leaf cluster, and the Meritorious Service Medal. Mr. Kirk is also a member of the National Guard Association, the Percussive Art’s Society, the College Band Director’s National Association, the Mississippi Bandmasters Association, and the National Band Association. 

When not busy with school or Army requirements, Mr. Kirk likes to spend his time gardening and reading. He and his family attend Highlands Presbyterian Church.

Areas of Expertise

• Percussion Performance
• Instrumental Music Education
• Music Pedagogy
• Conducting

Teaching Focus

• Marching Band
• Conducting
• Wind Ensemble
• Woodwind Methods
• Percussion Methods
• Brass Methods
• Music Theory
• Music Education