Joshua Kearney

Biography

Joshua Kearney is Assistant Professor, Assistant Director of Bands, and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he is responsible for all aspects of the athletic band program, teaches courses in music education and conducting, and directs the University Band. A native of Tennessee, Kearney served as a teacher in the public schools south of Nashville.

Dr. Kearney has worked as an adjudicator and clinician for ensembles of all levels—maintaining an active guest conducting schedule with ensembles locally and across the United States. During the 2019-2020 concert season, Dr. Kearney will serve as the Visiting Music Director and Conductor of the Nebraska Wind Symphony, an established community concert band based in Omaha. Additionally, Kearney regularly shares his research and experiences through conference presentations across the region, including the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association, the Nebraska Music Educators Association, the Michigan Music Conference, the North Central Division conference of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.

An advocate of new music, Kearney regularly works with composers in the creation and performance of new works for winds. His direct efforts have contributed to new works by Donald Grantham, Steven Bryant, Joe Krycia, and Anthony O’Toole. Dr. Kearney is also an active editor and arranger, having provided music for the UNO Athletic Bands, the Spartan Marching Band of Michigan State University, the UNO Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Columbus State University Wind Ensemble and Trombone Choir, and the Springer Opera House (GA). In 2017, Boosey & Hawkes published Kearney’s critical edition of Emil Hartmann’s Serenade for Winds (Op. 43) in their acclaimed Windependence Chamber Ensemble series. Dr. Kearney’s edition of the Hartmann Serenadeis regularly featured at conducting symposia throughout the United States.

Dr. Kearney earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from Michigan State University where he studied with Kevin Sedatole and his Master of Music in Conducting from Columbus State University (GA) where he was a student of Jamie L. Nix. He also earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Columbus State University. Kearney holds affiliations with the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association, Nebraska Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, College Music Society, and the College Band Directors National Association. Kearney serves on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association as Concert Band Chair.