07) Joseph B. Earp

Joseph Benjamin Earp is the Director of Bands at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi. He received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Master of Music in Music Education from Anderson University (Anderson, South Carolina), and Doctor of Music Education degree from Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia).

His professional teaching career began in 2006 as Director of Bands at Seneca High School in South Carolina. After two years, he then taught at Robbinsville Middle and High Schools for a year before becoming the founding Director of Bands at Cox Mill High School in Concord, North Carolina. After eight years of numerous achievements at Cox Mill High School, he moved into his role at Limestone University (Gaffney, South Carolina) as Director of Athletic Bands, elevating many elements of Limestone’s athletic band program. Just prior to his role at Hinds Community College, Dr. Earp was the Director of Instrumental Music at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Earp is an active published composer and clinician with his music being performed internationally. His major compositional accomplishments include being winner of the 2010 Claude T. Smith Composition Contest in Missouri, winner of the 2018 Thornton Community Band Composition Contest in Colorado, and multiple J.W. Pepper Editors’ Choice awards. He currently resides in Clinton, Mississippi with his wife Mary Beth and sons Jackson and Jasper.

More about Dr. Earp can be found at www.joeemusic.com. Follow Dr. Earp on TikTok and Twitter @earpcomposer. Find him on Instagram as earpcomposer.


For 2023 BKJ is proud to offer two more compositions by Joseph Benjamin Earp. WE ARE BRAVE is a work for middle school band and the STONE MOUNTAIN FANFARE is a brilliant opener for honor bands. These works are now available on JW Pepper .

Compositions for Band by Joseph B. Earp

Robinson Suite (Concert Band) Duration 7 min. 30 sec.

This 2010 winner of the Claude T. Smith composition contest is in three movements; Fanfare, Andante, and Chorale & Allegro. They have a distinctly fresh and crisp sound and the scoring is rich and full of color. An mp3 excerpt of each movement is below.

Score and Parts Set $65.00 Find it on JW Pepper


Lenoir - Remember the Bearcats (Concert Band) Duration: 5 min. 30 sec. View/Listen to the premiere performance here!

To the memory of Captain James C. Harper, founder of the Lenoir (NC) High School Band (1924-1977) This program is a testament to its accomplishments and its contributions to North Carolina's high school bands.

Score and set of parts - $45.00 Find it on JW Pepper.


From A Distance (Concert Band) Duration: 4 min. 15 sec. View/Listen to the premiere performance here!

A poignant and expressive piece for band, this accessible and calming piece is perfect for a concert 'change of pace'. The compser's program note will resonate with both the audience and the musicians.

Full score and set of parts - $50.00 Find it on JW Pepper


Stone Mountain Fanfare (Concert Band) Duration: 1 min 45 sec. View the score and hear: Stone Mountain Fanfare

This is a high energy concert opener. Commissioned in 2017 by the Georgia Music Educators Assn. it is a terrific piece for a district or All State Honors Band.

Mr. Earp has shown is again that he has full command of what works for high school and collegiate concert bands. It is available in standard printed form or as an electronic download.

Score and Parts Set $40.00 Find it on JW Pepper.

We Are Brave (Concert March for Middle School Band) Duration: 1 min
View the Score and hear the march

This is a perfect concert opener for middle school bands. Your younger band will love this rousing piece that will make them sound terrific. There is enough doubling of the less common instruments so that the integrity of the music is not lost regardless of your instrumentation.

Score and Parts Set $40.00 Find it on JW Pepper.