Joseph Earp

Joseph Earp is the Music/Music Industry Chair & Director of Bands at Hinds Community College. He holds a Doctor of Music Education from Liberty University (2020), a Master of Music in Music Education from Anderson University (2017), and a Bachelor of Music Education from UNC Charlotte (2006). Previously, he served as Director of Athletic Bands at Limestone University, Director of Instrumental Music at Pfeiffer University, and founded the band program at Cox Mill High School.

• Doctor of Music Education, Liberty University (2020)
• Master of Music, Anderson University (2017)
• Bachelor of Music Education, UNC Charlotte (2006)

Research and Creative Work: Dr. Earp specializes in music education, concert band composition, and instrumental arrangement. His compositions are performed internationally and published by leading firms, including Carl Fischer and Alfred Music. His work focuses on blending educational pedagogy with contemporary concert band repertoire.

Publications and Recognition: His piece Where the Wild Things Dance was featured in J.W. Pepper’s 2019 Editors’ Choice catalog. He also won the 2010 Claude T. Smith Composition Contest and the 2018 Thornton Community Band Composition Contest, alongside multiple Editors’ Choice awards and Band World Magazine Top 100 selections.

Personal Life: A native of Lenoir, N.C., he resides in Clinton, Mississippi, with his wife Mary Beth and sons Jackson and Jasper. He actively engages in social media via TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram under @earpcomposer.