Mr Linard McCloud

For over 46 years, Mr. Linard McCloud has dedicated his life to music education at Burke High School, inspiring students and showcasing their talents across South Carolina, Florida, NY, New Orleans, and Ontario, Canada.​​

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​Linard H. McCloud, a 1972 graduate of Burke High School in Charleston, SC, has dedicated his life to music education. He earned his B.S. in Music Education from Florida A&M University in 1976. Offered the William P. Foster Scholarship to attend the University of Kansas, he instead pursued his M.A. in Music Education at the University of Iowa on a full fellowship. 

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In August 1978, Mr. McCloud returned to Burke High School as Director of Bands. Under his leadership, the band has reached grade IV–V performance levels and has helped students secure over $20 million in academic and music scholarships.

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Notable Achievements

The Burke Band program has earned numerous opportunities and accolades, including:

• Performance at the 1982 Division 1-AA College Football Championship

• Percussion performance for the Prince of Wales

• ETV documentary featuring the Burke Percussion Section (F-Troop)

• Three Mardi Gras parade performances in New Orleans

• 16 spring tours in Canada

• Named the official marching band of the College of Charleston (1998)

• Consistently earning Superior and Excellent ratings in Concert Assessment

• Featured in a Glasspro Company local commercial

• Co-founder of the Palmetto Invitational Marching Classic (1987)​

The Palmetto Invitational Marching Classic

Founded in 1987, the Classic was created to promote traditional-style bands in competitive marching events and to foster appreciation for their diversity and excellence. Initially alternating between Charleston and Columbia (1987–1995), Burke took sole ownership in 1996, allowing the band to fund scholarships.

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• $150,000 in scholarships have been awarded to students.

• Six $1,000 annual scholarships (1996–2024) have supported deserving students.

• Over $120,000 has been donated to nine HBCUs that performed at the Classic.

• The Linard McCloud $1,500 Scholarship was established to recognize an outstanding band member.

Honors & Recognitions

• Three-time Burke High School Teacher of the Year

• Community awards from Omega Psi Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, and Alpha Kappa Alpha

• 1997 National Milken Foundation Outstanding Educator Award

• Key to the City of Winter Haven, FL, for contributions to education

• First Black President of the Charleston County Band Directors Association

• Invited to present at the 2023 The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference

• Inducted into the Lowcountry Music Hall of Fame (2024)

• Member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha, and SCBDA

• A lifelong member of Morris Brown AME Church

In 2016, thanks to a petition by his graduating seniors, Burke High School named its fine arts music building the Linard H. McCloud Fine Arts Center in his honor.​​

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Mr. McCloud is married to Veronica Rene Rivers of Lamar, SC. They have two children, Rosalee Patrice McCloud-Ashley and Linard Rivers McCloud, and five grandchildren, Gracen, Sonny, Linard, Laila, and Linessa.