Anthony B. Kirkland

Dr. Anthony B. Kirkland is Associate Professor of Trumpet as Mississippi State University where he teaches studio trumpet, trumpet consort, and brass ensembles. He received a Bachelor of Music Education from Troy University (magna cum laude), a Master of Music History and Literature from Florida State University and completed a Doctorate in Trumpet Performance at the University of Maryland. His trumpet teachers include James Wadowick, Emerson Head, Brian Goff, Steven Dimmick, Philip Collins, and Chris Gekker. He presented a lecture at the International Trumpet Guild Conference (2019) titled “Win that Trumpet Audition – Know your Band Excerpts!” He was a member of The United States Air Force Band’s Ceremonial Brass in Washington, D.C., for 20 years and has performed ceremonies and concerts at The White House, The U.S. Capitol, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Arlington National Cemetery, The National Cathedral, Constitution Hall and other national venues. He has performed internationally with the Air Force Band in The Netherlands, Russia, Norway, and Sweden. In 1997 he performed Taps at the funeral and memorial service for actor and U.S. Air Force Brigadier General (retired) James Stewart in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Kirkland is principal trumpet of the MSU-Starkville Symphony and has performed with the Mississippi Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Meridian (MS) Symphony, and the Memphis chamber ensemble “Prizm.” In May of 2014 he was featured soloist with the MSU Wind Ensemble on its Italian tour and led a performance by the Wind Ensemble’s brass section in the Papal Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi. He also performed trumpet solos with the MSU Choir during its tour of Spain in Summer of 2019. His book, Wind Band Excerpts for Trumpet and Cornet, was published by Balquhidder Music in 2016.