Kelvin Jones (musician)

Kelvin Deangelo L.P. Jones (born May 28, 1985) is the director of the Sudler winning LSU Tiger Marching Band and the first African American in history to lead an Southeastern Conference marching band. Additionally, he is the assistant director of bands in the Louisiana State University School of Music. Along with serving as the director of the 325-member Golden Band from Tigerland, his duties also include conducting the Symphonic Band, teaching undergraduate instrumental conducting and graduate students.[1]

Kelvin Jones
Kelvin Jones at the 2022 Grammys
Born
Kelvin Deangelo L.P. Jones

(1985-05-28) May 28, 1985
Greenville, Mississippi, U.S.
Education
TitleDirector of the LSU Tiger Band
Spouse(s)Felicia Jones

Bands under Jones' direction have performed at events on the state and national level, including the Zulu Mardi Gras parade, New Orleans Saints, in Washington DC, Walt Disney World, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship in Atlanta, GA, College Football Playoff (CFP) Peach Bowl and the CFP National Championship games.[1] Under his direction, many performances of the LSU Tiger Marching Band have been selected for recognition and viewing at regional and national conferences of the College Band Directors National Association, including the Athletic Band Symposiums.[2]

Early years and education

Jones on ESPN documentary in 2007

Kelvin was born in Greenville, Mississippi. His father, Lawerence Jones, served in the United States Marine Corps and mother, Angela Jones, a public school educator. Due to his father's work, Jones has lived in California, Texas, Louisiana and graduated high school from Kalaheo High School in Kailua, Hawaii. Before Kalaheo High School, he was a student at Belaire High School in Baton Rouge, LA and a classmate of Super Bowl winning running back Mewelde Moore. After Hawaii, Jones went on to study music education at Jackson State University, a Historically Black College and University in Jackson, Mississippi, and was a trumpet section in the marching band; the Sonic Boom of the South and featured on an ESPN documentary about HBCU bands.[3]

After graduating with honors, he went on to receive a Master's degree in Music from Louisiana State University and later pursued a doctorate in Music on a graduate assistantship with the band department where he worked with all athletic and concert ensembles along with teaching music education courses. In 2014, Jones received the A.P. Tureaud Milestone Award, named in honor of the noted Louisiana civil rights advocate and awarded to a student with significant achievements at LSU as Jones was the school's first African American male music education PhD student, the first African American doctoral band graduate teaching assistant, and the first African American to conduct the LSU Symphonic Winds concert ensemble.[4] Jones received his doctorate in music in August 2016.[5]

West Feliciana High School

Upon graduation from Jackson State University with honors, he went to be the band director at West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville, Louisiana. At WFHS, he led an active, comprehensive music program that produced award-winning performances at state and national events, including the 2013 National Presidential Inauguration Music Festival in Washington DC. While at West Feliciana, he received the Young Music Educators of the Year award from the Louisiana Music Educators Association[6] and the Teacher of Distinction award from the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.[7]

Louisiana State University

Jones was hired on the faculty at LSU as the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Bengal Brass in 2016.[8] While in this role, Tiger Band received numerous accolades including recognition from the College Band Directors National Association in 2017 for being one of eight collegiate marching bands from around the nation to be recognized by a juried panel for exceptional performances.[9] In 2019, Jones was named interim Associate of Bands and director of Tiger Band.[10] This was a historic moment as he was the first African American to lead a marching band in SEC history.[11] Jones is an advocate and champion for diversity, inclusion, and equal rights and serves as an ambassador for the university through his service and mentorship across various initiatives and contributions throughout campus. Through this, he has received numerous accolades and distinctions for his contributions within the local community from community leaders. In particular, he received an award recognition from the Baton Rouge mayor, Sharon Weston Broome, for contributions to the Baton Rouge community at an event held at Southern University.[12]

In 2020, Jones was named Director of Tiger Band and Assistant Director of Bands.[13] Dr. Jones has been praised for his innovative shows and use of technology within the band program.[14] He is an active drill designer and music arranger for high school and university music programs across the country with his arrangements being performed internationally and throughout the United States, including the Dallas Winds. As a conductor, Jones has conducted ensembles internationally and nationally, including Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Jones conducting Baker High School Symphonic Band in Carnegie Hall


He has worked on new music commissioning projects and has received praise on his interpretations from composers Steven Bryant, Alex Shapiro, Omar Thomas, John Mackey, Anthony Barfield, Ayatey Shabazz, Joshua Hobbs, among others. Dr. Jones has also served as a consultant for school districts and music programs throughout the country along with presenting at international, national, and state music conferences across the United States.[15]

During his time at LSU, he has written for music education practitioner journals such as the Instrumentalist magazine along with chapters written through Oxford Press on marching bands and organizational skills for music programs. He is an active clinician with programs throughout the country, and has travelled internationally working with music programs in South America (Chile)[16] and with the LSU marching band in Dublin, Ireland. He also serves as an instructor at the Smith-Walbridge Drum Major Clinic held in Charleston, Illinois working with high school and college drum majors from across the country during the summer months.

Kelvin speaking before football game in 2019

Personal life

Jones is a Christian and married to Felicia Jones, a nurse practitioner from Jackson, MS. They met during his college years while she was a student at Tougaloo College.

He is a member Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., initiated in 2006 in the Delta Phi chapter at Jackson State University.

He owns a real estate investment company called APE investments. APE stands for All Positive Energy.

He is an avid New Orleans Saints fan.

Jones was involved in a near-fatal car accident at the age of five with his mother and another family member where he flew through the windshield of a car and in a coma for three days. He has a large scar on his right arm from the accident to this day.

References
  1. "Directors". LSU. February 27, 2022.
  2. "Marching Band Recognized by College Band Directors National Association". January 21, 2022.
  3. ESPN Classic. HBCU Marching Bands, retrieved February 27, 2022
  4. "LSU Black Faculty and Staff Caucus' 29th annual Black Scholars Awards Program to be Held April 6". LSU. April 3, 2014.
  5. "James Byo". LSU. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  6. "Outstanding Young Music Educator – Recipients – Louisiana Music Educators Association". Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  7. Minton Baker-Zachary, James. "Easter parade planned in Jackson". The Advocate. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  8. "2016 Season Preview: LSU Tiger Band". College Marching Bands. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  9. "LSU Tiger Band Performance Recognized by National Conference". KTVE - myarklamiss.com. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  10. Miller, Robin. "Dennis Llinas says leaving LSU for Oregon is difficult choice, but Tiger Band is 'in good hands'". The Advocate. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  11. "Band director with HBCU roots making history at LSU".
  12. Part 1 of 2 Crank Fest LIVE Battle of the Bands 2019, retrieved February 27, 2022
  13. "Dr. Kelvin Jones – Alumni and Constituency Relations". Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  14. "Dr. Kelvin Jones and the LSU Tiger Band". Pyware. February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  15. "The Midwest Clinic – Score Study for Director..." Midwest Clinic. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  16. Unknown (May 26, 2014). "LSU Teaching in Chile 2014: Kelvin Jones: Greetings from the Top of the World..." LSU Teaching in Chile 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.