PATRICK J. BURNS (b. 1969) serves as Adjunct Professor of Music at Montclair State University in New Jersey, where he teaches courses in orchestration, counterpoint, band literature and music composition, and also teaches instrumental music in the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. As a clarinetist, Mr. Burns has performed with many professional ensembles in the New York metro area including the Metropolitan Opera Summer Ballet Orchestra, the pit orchestra for the Broadway revival production of Camelot starring Robert Goulet, and with the New Jersey Chamber Music Society in broadcasts for National Public Radio and New Jersey Network Television.

In 1986, at the age of seventeen, Mr. Burns founded the Bloomfield Youth Band, a community wind ensemble of some 65 secondary school and collegiate musicians which he continues to direct today. The Youth Band has been recognized for its outstanding artistic achievements and service to the community from the United States Congress, the New Jersey Legislature and the Mayor and Town Council of Bloomfield. Mr. Burns is former director of the Montclair State University Youth Orchestra and the Imperial Brass. He has been featured as guest conductor and clinician with public school, community, university, region and all-state bands in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia and has recorded and concertized with world-renowned brass artists Philip Smith, Warren Vaché, Roger Webster and Chris Jaudes.

Patrick Burns' music for symphonic band is published by Daehn Publications, G. Schirmer, FJH Music, Wingert-Jones Music and TRN Music Publisher and is performed by bands of every level throughout the country. The United States Army Band, "Pershing's Own", has played his music in Washington, D.C. and at Carnegie Hall. His music has also been performed by conservatory and military bands in Russia, Japan, Sweden and China. His compositions have appeared on Bandworld magazine's Top 100 list of band compositions three times. The Instrumentalist and School Music News have also printed favorable reviews of Mr. Burns' band music and The Classical New Jersey Society Journal has praised his chamber music. His works have been performed at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago and recorded for the educational series Distinguished Music for the Developing Band. He has received commissions from many organizations including the Goldman Band/Harvey Phillips Foundation, the
Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble, the Ohio Northern University Bands, the Ridgewood Concert Band and the Westlake Village High School Wind Ensemble (California) for the band's performance in Carnegie Hall. Mr. Burns has been a recipient of an ASCAP Special Composition Award annually since 2001 and also serves as president of the Bloomfield Federation of Music.