Richard Kearns serves as Percussion Director at Centennial High School in Burleson, TX. Richard is also a Visual and Conceptual Designer for many successful Indoor Percussion groups and Marching bands, including Vigilantes Indoor Percussion (Ft. Worth, Texas), in which the ensemble was the 2016 WGI Open Class Champion.

Richard previously served as the Percussion Director at Azle High School from 2011 through 2014. Over that time period, the ensemble earned many awards and accolades on a state and national level. Highlights for the group’s success include Lonestar Classic Champions, TCGC Champions, NTCA Champions, and WGI World Championship Semi-Finalists in both Open and World Class, in Dayton Ohio.  

Prior to Azle, Richard was the Percussion Director at Palestine High School, as well as Battery/Drumline Coordinator at Tyler Junior 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 is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion, Pearl/Adams, Remo Drumheads, and Paiste Cymbals.