About Mike
Mike Bearden, a native of Newnan, Georgia and currently resides in Canton, Georgia. He received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Valdosta State University and a Master of Music Degree in Instrumental Conducting from Reinhardt University.
Formerly, Mr. Bearden was the Fine Arts Department Chair and Director of Bands at North Paulding High School in Dallas, Georgia. The North Paulding Band Program included a 200-member marching band, four wind ensembles, jazz ensemble, percussion ensembles, indoor percussion, and winterguard. The North Paulding High School Bands have received superior ratings at all adjudicated events including the first Grand Champion award in the program’s history during the fall off 2013 and continued that success through his tenure. The Wolfpack Pride has also appeared in the Children’s Healthcare Parade of Atlanta numerous times and the 2016 Outback Bowl game and parade.
The North Paulding High School Wind Symphony received numerous invitational performances that included the 2014 Kennesaw State University’s Department of Music Concert Band Invitational, the 2017 University of Alabama Honor Band Festival, the 2018 University of Georgia JanFest Honor Band, the 2019 Reinhardt University Honor Band, and most notably, the 2019 Georgia Music Educators Association’s Annual In-service. In 2013, North Paulding High School was represented in the Georgia Music Educators Association’s All State Band for the first time in the school’s history. Many students each school year participated in regional honor bands, district honor bands, and the Paulding County Honor Band.
Prior to North Paulding High School, Mr. Bearden served as Director of Bands at Stockbridge High School in Stockbridge, GA, Port St. Lucie High School in Port St. Lucie, FL, Okeechobee High School in Okeechobee, FL, and Yearling Middle School in Okeechobee, FL.
As a composer, arranger, and drill designer Mr. Bearden has compositions published by Grand Mesa Publications. He currently has compositions on the Middle School Solo & Ensemble required performance list in Florida.
Mr. Bearden’s professional affiliations include memberships with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lamda, Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Georgia Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Music Educators Association, United States School Band Association, the National Band Association, and the National Association for Music Educators. Mr. Bearden is a staff member with the Georgia Ambassadors of Music European Music Tour.
Mr. Bearden was awarded a Citation of Excellence by The National Band Association for outstanding contribution to bands and band music in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Mr. Bearden resides in Canton, Georgia with his lovely wife Robbye and handsome sons Michael, Christian, and Jackson.