Patrick J. Burns (b. 1969) serves as an adjunct professor of music at Montclair State University in New Jersey, where he teaches orchestration, counterpoint, band literature, and music composition. Mr. Burns also teaches instrumental music in the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. In 1986, Mr. Burns founded the Bloomfield Youth Band, a community wind ensemble of 65 secondary school and collegiate musicians, which he continues to direct today.

Mr. Burns's compositions have been performed throughout the United States and abroad by various ensembles, including the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" in Washington, D.C. and Carnegie Hall, and conservatory bands in Russia and Japan. His music has twice appeared on Bandworld's Top 100 list of band compositions, while The Instrumentalist, School Music News, and The Classical New Jersey Society Journal have praised his music.

Mr. Burns has received commissions from a number of ensembles including the Goldman Band/Harvey Phillips Foundation, the Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble, the North Jersey Area Band Association, and the Ridgewood Concert Band. He has been a recipient of an ASCAP Special Composition Award annually since 2001.