Melvin N. Miles
About
Melvin N. Miles, Jr., is the former Director of University Bands and Instructor of Music at Morgan State
University. He conducted the Morgan State University Symphonic Winds, Concert Band and Jazz
Ensemble; directed the Morgan State University Marching Band “The Magnificent Marching Machine”,
the "Bear Band" (MSU's Pep Band), and the MSU Jazz Combo. As an instructor in the Fine and Performing
Arts Department, Melvin Miles taught Instrumental Music, Brass and Woodwind Methods, Instrumental
Music Repertoire, Instrumental Conducting and served as the Wind, Percussion and String Faculty
Coordinator. Melvin served on the Morgan State University faculty from 1973 to 2022.
A native of Baltimore, Melvin attended Frederick Douglass High School. He received his
Bachelor of Science in Music Education, Master of Arts in Music and Doctor of Fine Arts degrees
from Morgan State University. He is an arranger, conductor, adjudicator and presenter of
workshops, clinics and seminars on all styles and types of music and music education. He served
as the Music Director and on the Board of Directors for the “Encore Dinner Theater” and the Music
Director for the MSU Fine and Performing Arts productions of Raisin, Ragtime, Sarafina, Crowns, The
Color Purple, The Wiz, and Dreamgirls. Melvin Miles recorded several albums with the Baltimore based
band “Sound Experience”; worked in the music industry as a record producer and publisher; appeared
with many national artists of the seventies, eighties and nineties and arranged, performed music for, as
well as appeared in, Barry Levinson’s movies Diner and Avalon.
Melvin is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity (Past President and Board
Chair) and Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority. He is the recipient of Kappa Kappa Psi’s
“Distinguished Service to Music Medal”, Morgan State University’s “Outstanding Creative
Achievements and Accomplishment Award” and ”Outstanding Alumni Faculty Award”, The Stanley G.
Finck Award (KKPsi/TBS), The Scarborough Lifetime Achievement Award, The Jazz Journalist Assoc.
2017 Jazz Hero Award-Baltimore and awards from HBCU National Band Director’s Consortium, the
Minority Band Director’s Assoc., the MSU Howard Cornish Alumni Chapter, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority,
as well as other awards, citations. He holds active membership in the College Band Directors National
Association (Past Eastern Division President), National Assoc. for Music Educators (NAfME), Maryland
Music Educators Association, Maryland Band Directors Assoc., and is a member of Promethean Kappa
Tau, Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society, Tau Alpha Upsilon, Phi Beta Mu and Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternities.
