Joe Milliken

Joseph Milliken

Born and raised in Elmira, Mr. Milliken returned to the area in 1988 after many years living abroad and in other parts of the country. He is a graduate of St. John Fisher College with a BA in English and History. He continued his education with undergraduate music studies at Skyline College in California and at the University of Southern Maine, after serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He completed his Master’s Degree in Music Education at USM in 1979. His vocal studies began at USM with Stewart Shuster and continued with Lorenzo Palomo at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Germany.

Mr. Milliken has been a choral director at Catherine McAuley High School in Portland, ME, the John-F.-Kennedy-Schule in Berlin, Germany, Waverly High School, in Waverly, NY, and currently is the Choral Director at Horseheads High School. He has been active as a professional soloist in churches in New England, Germany, and in this area. Joseph also has been a music director and choir director at Most Holy Trinity Church in Saco, ME, St. Casimir’s and St. Charles Churches in Elmira, and has been Director of Music and Choir Director at Park Church since 2000. In addition, Mr. Milliken has broad experience as a tenor soloist and an actor with many musical theatre and opera roles to his credit, as well as professional solo appearances with symphony orchestras and choral societies.

Joe and his wife, Chick, live in Elmira. Their youngest son, Grennan, is a freshman in high school, and his older children, Caley and Ian are in college. When he isn't making music, Joe likes to do woodworking and enjoys working in his shop.