Mr. Kirkpatrick has taught music for over 25 years and is thrilled to be a founding faculty member for the music program at NCSSM Morganton. He previously taught at T.C. Roberson High School in Asheville, and also North Forsyth High School and West Forsyth High School in the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools. Bands under his direction have consistently earned Superior ratings at North Carolina Music Performance Adjudication events while performing Grade IV through Masterworks programs. During his tenure at West Forsyth High School, the Wind Ensemble was featured at the 2011 North Carolina Music Educators Association In-Service Conference, and again in 2014 with the Jazz Ensemble. He earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Mr. Kirkpatrick has enjoyed performing as a percussionist with the Asheville Steel Band, the MidEurope Word Adult Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria and the Charlotte Pride Concert Band. He has served as guest conductor and adjudicator for honor band events and music festivals across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia and has conducted bands at the UNCG Summer Music Camp since 2002. He is also Condutor Emeritus of the Asheville Community Band. Mr. Kirkpatrick completed a residential fellowship at The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, collaborating with performing artists and public schools across the Greater Washington, DC area. 

Mr. Kirkpatrick was selected by his colleagues for several recognitions, including the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Band Director of the Year in 2006 and the Northwest District “Award of Excellence” in 2011. He was inducted into the American School Band Directors Association in June 2012. Mr. Kirkpatrick is a National Board Certified Teacher and has served on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards assessor panel and as a mentor for candidates pursuing certification. Mr. Kirkpatrick is the current President of the North Carolina Bandmasters Association. He previously served as Secretary for NCBA from 2016-2020. He has twice served on the Board of Directors for the Northwest District North Carolina Bandmasters Association.