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CMSgt Kevin R. Burns

Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Burns official photo

Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Burns is the Flight Chief and split lead trumpeter with the Airmen of Note, The United States Air Force Band, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.

Chief Burns was born in Fort Worth, TX and grew up in Cleveland, TN, He enlisted in the Air Force in November, 1993. His first assignment was with The USAF Band of the West, Lackland AFB, TX. As a SrA, he was appointed music director of the newly formed jazz ensemble NightHawk. In 1996 he won a position with The USAF Academy Band, Colorado Springs, CO, as lead trumpet with the Falconaires jazz ensemble, touring nationally and heading the graphics design team, Additionally, he built and managed the unit’s first dot com website. In 2002 he won a position with The USAF Band, as a trumpeter with the premier jazz ensemble of the Air Force, the Airmen of Note.

Chief Burns began music studies at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. He finished at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he completed a Bachelor of Music degree in performance and a Master of Business Administration degree.

Prior to his appointment as Chief of “the Note,” he served as Section Chief for Marketing and Outreach for the unit. A creative content developer, Chief Burns was responsible for initiating and building the entire social media landscape for The USAF Band, resulting in targeted & trackable engagement worldwide that inspires millions. As an expert photographer, Chief Burns has taken some of the most memorable images for The USAF Band, including winning a top 20 photo for the entire Air Force in 2012.

Prior to entering the Air Force, Chief Burns played lead trumpet with the nationally televised "Richard Roberts Live" and "Expect A Miracle" television shows in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also was a featured soloist with the San Antonio Symphony, the Oklahoma Synphonia/Tulsa Pops, the Tulsa Ballet, the Bartlesville Symphony, Ms. Oklahoma Pageant Orchestra, and worked extensively with various big bands and jazz combos. Prior to moving to Oklahoma, Chief Burns was the lead trumpeter for the 1985 Tennessee All State Jazz Band, toured the entire continental U.S. with "The Spurrlows" from Florida, and toured Europe and the Eastern U.S. with various music groups while attending Lee University. Chief Burns has performed with an extensive lineup of notable artists, and has arranged and played on hundreds of recordings sessions, including projects for Disneyland, Disney and Norwegian cruise lines, Alfred Music, ESPN, and ABC Sports.

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