Donald F. Allen serves as the Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Central Florida. His duties include direction and administration of the Marching Knights and pep bands, conducting the Symphonic Band and Concert Band, supervision of student interns in music education, and course instruction in music education, orchestration, and brass techniques.
Prior to his arrival at UCF, Donny served as Conductor of the Wind Ensemble and Assistant Professor of Music at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His ensembles were known for their commitment to the commissioning and performance of new music for winds. His transcriptions of major works have been performed at conferences throughout the South, including CBDNA – Southern Division. He was Assistant Director of Bands, responsible for music instruction, drill design, and administration of the marching band. His duties also included coaching chamber ensembles and music history instruction.
A native of Winston-Salem, NC, Donny earned his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Memphis, and his Master's in Music and Bachelor's in Music Education from East Carolina University.
He previously served in the U.S. Army as principal horn and staff conductor for the bands at Ft. Gordon, GA and Ft. Benning, GA. Dr. Allen has significant secondary school teaching experience, working as Director of Bands at West Craven High School in Vanceboro, NC. He has also served on the instructional staff for the Blluecoats and Spirit of Atlanta drum corps.
Donny is active as a designer and arranger for college and high school marching bands throughout the country. He is a member of CBDNA, the International Horn Society, MENC, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.