Biography

Jovon Milford currently serve as the Interim Director of Bands and Director of Percussion at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. He attended Benedict College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a concentration in Percussion and Ashford University where he earned a Master of Arts degree in High Education. Additionally, he also attended Liberty University where he earned additional music credits towards a Master of Arts degree in Music Education. His primary responsibilities at Allen University consists of overseeing the percussion department where he instructs the percussion ensemble, teaches applied percussion and marching percussion techniques. In addition to his collegiate duties, he also serves as an orchestral percussionist for the Colour of Music Black Classical Musicians Festival and the South Carolina Brass Band. Milford’s prior teaching experiences includes serving as an assistant director of bands (public school) teaching general music (public school) and instructing various high school percussion programs throughout the Southeast. While teaching in the public school system, he found a love for teaching elementary school music and redefined the chorus and music program at Estill Elementary where he served as a music educator for three years. He was responsible for preparing the Estill Elementary Chorus program for the state music competition at Carowinds in Charlotte, NC. This was the only year to date that this ensemble competed.   

Mr. Milford has been instrumental as a high school percussion instructor in the State of South Carolina. Three of his ensembles (Wilson High School and Sumter High School) advanced to the South Carolina State Finals Championship, a momentous opportunity for bands in the state. As a performer, Milford has performed at the world’s largest Percussion Convention 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana with a percussion ensemble that was the first African- American symphonic group to perform at this venue. 

He currently holds active professional memberships within the following organizations, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, The Racial Diversity Alliance Subcommittee, and the Percussive Arts Society. Milford proudly endorses Grover Pro Percussion, Remo Drum Heads, Zildjian Cymbals and Vic Firth sticks and mallets.