WASHINGTON – The Howard University Department of Music, within the College of Arts and Sciences, appoints Kelvin W. Washington as director of University Bands. Washington has worked with the Howard University Bands for the past 24 years, having previously served as conductor of the Howard University Wind Symphony and associate director of the SHOWTIME Marching Band. He replaces John E. Newson, Sr., who retired after serving as director of bands from 1993 until the conclusion the 2018-2019 school year.

“Kelvin Washington is a dedicated, detail-oriented professional who consistently goes the extra mile for his students,” says Department of Music Chair Anthony Randolph, DMA. “Expect great energy, musicianship, and growth in the Wind Symphony and Marching Band under Professor Washington's leadership.”

Washington, a native of Scotlandville, Louisiana, attended Southern University and earned bachelor and master’s degrees in instrumental music education. He began his teaching career at Livonia High School in Louisiana, before moving to Detroit in 1987, where he was appointed director of bands at Nolan Middle School and McKenzie High School. Before coming to Howard University in 1994, Washington held the positions of chief arranger, assistant director of bands and director of bands at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In the past few years, as conductor of the Wind Symphony, Washington has presented concerts at the Maryland State Music Conference, as the second HBCU band to perform in 75 years, and the first HBCU band to perform at the New Jersey State Music Educators Convention. The wind symphony also performed at the HBCU-NBDC Music convention in Atlanta, Georgia, 2005, 2010 and 2017. Last Spring, SHOWTIME Marching Band performed a joint performance for the grand opening of The Shed Performing Arts Center, in New York City.

In addition to his role at Howard, Washington serves as director of The 369^th Experience. Washington is an active past-president of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities National Band Directors Consortium and an educational clinician with the Conn-Selmer Institute, an Indiana-based professional development conference for college students, directors, and music program leaders. He serves as an advisory board member for the Dr. William P. Foster Project for the National Band Association. Washington, previously served as governor of the Eastern Division of Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary National Band Fraternity, and is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfornia and the College Band Directors National Association. As a touring musician, Washington has engaged in performances across the United States, and abroad in England, Scotland and Poland.

“The term ‘SHOWTIME’ is synonymous with the Howard University Marching Band,” Washington explains. “By building on our great history, we are looking forward to implementing new and exciting aspects into our program. Our plan is to focus on three key areas: recruitment, national and international events, and high-profile performances. Our goal is to present our program to a bigger and wider audience.”

The SHOWTIME Marching Band recently won the Battle of the Bands competition, during halftime of the Chicago Football Classic, against Hampton University. For more information on Howard University Bands, visit https://coas.howard.edu.

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Photograph: Destiny Moore, senior psychology student and drum major of the SHOWTIME Marching band, holding the Battle of the Bands trophy with Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC 

The Howard University Department of Music is a professional fine arts unit within an historically Black private university. Its purpose is to attract diverse students of high artistic and academic potential, and provide for them a scholarly environment and musical experience of exceptional quality in performance, research, pedagogy, technology, therapy, and composition.

The Department is dedicated to attracting and retaining faculty of the highest order who work together to inspire students, through example and leadership, to reach their full intellectual and artistic potential. The Department of Music places particular emphasis on the provision of educational and cultural opportunities for individuals of the global community, with significant focus given to the musical contributions of peoples of the African Diaspora.

ABOUT HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media contact: Ramzey Smith, Office of University Communications, ramzey.smith@howard.edu