Kelvin Jones

Dr. Kelvin Jones (he/him) is an active educator, conductor, musician, drill designer, and music arranger for high school and university music programs across the country, with his arrangements being performed throughout the United States, including the Dallas Winds. Formerly in his position at Louisiana State University, he served as the director of the award winning and Grammy-nominated, Golden Band from Tigerland.

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. Under his direction, numerous 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 Symposium and nominated for a 2023 Grammy award by the Recording Academy for their collaborative album with Zydeco artist, Sean Ardoin in the Best Regional Roots category.

In great demand as a guest conductor, Jones is an active clinician and has travelled internationally working with music programs in South America (Chile) and with the LSU marching band in Dublin, Ireland. He is a Conn Selmer Educational Clinician and 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.

As a conductor, Jones has conducted ensembles both internationally and nationally, including the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Memphis, Tennessee, and Carnegie Hall in New York City. He has worked on new music commissions and has received praise on his interpretations from composers such as Steven Bryant, Alex Shapiro, Omar Thomas, John Mackey, Anthony Barfield, Ayatey Shabazz, and Joshua Hobbs.

Jones also serves as a consultant for school districts and music programs along with presenting at international, national, and state music conferences across the United States. He is published in the Instrumentalist magazine, Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series, distributed by GIA Publications, the Oxford University Press Publications, among others.

Jones is a former recipient of the Louisiana Music Educators Association’s Young Music Educator of the Year, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s Teacher of Distinction, and the LSU A.P. Tureaud award recipient for significant contributions to the university. He has received numerous accolades and distinctions for his contributions within the local community from leaders like the Louisiana governor and the Baton Rouge mayor.

A huge advocate and champion for diversity, inclusion, and equal rights, Jones serves as an ambassador for the university through his service and mentorship across various initiatives and contributions throughout campus. Recently, he received the 2022 LSU Faculty Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mentorship award given to faculty who are making outstanding contributions to the mentoring activities of faculty, staff and/or students from underrepresented groups.

A former K-12 public school educator, he was the band director at West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville, Louisiana. At WFHS, he led an active, comprehensive music program that produced numerous award-winning performances at state and national events, including the 2013 United States National Presidential Inauguration Music Festival in Washington DC.

He holds degrees in Music from Jackson State University and Louisiana State University. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Felicia, a nurse practitioner, and sons Samuel and Kye-Parker.