Director of Bands
Clarksdale High School
Tennessee State University

Mr. Joel Beard, currently serves as the Director of Bands for Clarksdale High School. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he has 11 years of experience teaching instrumental music in the Mid-South with Memphis City, Shelby County, and now Clarksdale Municipal School Districts. Mr. Beard was the previous Director of Bands at Sheffield High School, Havenview Middle School, and Kirby High School. Bands under his leadership have received local and regional acclaim, placed tops in competition, as well as earned Superior and Excellent ratings at festivals. Mr. Beard is a graduate of Watkins Overton High School for the Creative and Performing Arts where he was an All-West and All-State musician. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Tennessee State University. While at Tennessee State University he played Saxophone in The Aristocrat of Bands, Jazz Band, Jazz Collegians, and Contrabass Clarinet in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Along with teaching in public schools, Mr. Beard is on the music staff at Holy Temple COGIC in Memphis as a musician and choir director.