Steve Giove named Director of Bands at The Citadel

January 12, 2026January 12, 2026 Faculty & Staff Featured

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Steve Giove, USMC (Ret.), has been announced as the new Director of Bands at The Citadel.

Giove, a native of Hollywood, Florida, attended Berklee College of Music receiving a Bachelor Degree in Music Performance in 1987. After working as a freelance drummer in the Boston area for a couple of years, he joined the Marine Corps in July of 1989.

After boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, and Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina, he attended and graduated from the Basic Music Course at the Navy School of Music at Norfolk, Virginia, in June 1990.

Giove’s first assignment was the Quantico Marine Band, based in Quantico, Virginia, from June 1990 to April 1993.

As a corporal, his second assignment was as an instructor at the Naval School of Music from April 1993 to February 1997. Giove graduated from the Enlisted Band Leader course and the sergeants’ course during this time.

Thirdly, Giove held the positions of platoon sergeant and Junior Enlisted Conductor with the Second Marine Division Band at Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina, from February 1997 to August 1999. At this time, Sergeant Giove was Honorably Discharged from the Marine Corps.

After his Honorable Discharge he attended the University of Mississippi where he received a Masters of Music in December 2000, becoming a teacher for the School Board of Broward County, Florida.

Giove reenlisted in the Marine Corps February of 2003 and was assigned to the Parris Island Marine Band. Being promoted to staff sergeant, he served as the Small Ensemble Leader, arranger, percussionist and Enlisted Conductor. After Recruiter’s School in San Diego, California, in April 2004, Giove transferred in June of 2004.

From June 2004 to January 2007, Giove served as the Musician Technical Assistant (musician recruiter) for the Sixth Marine Corps District Recruiting Command, Parris Island, South Carolina. During this period, and on his off time, he was the conductor for the Charleston Community Band and percussionist for the Beaufort Symphony.

After graduating from the Warrant Officer Basic Course in May of 2007, he was assigned as the Officer in Charge of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Band while in Twentynine Palms, California, from June 2007 to June 2010. His next assignment, from June 2010 to July 2013, was as the Officer in Charge of the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band in Okinawa, Japan, where the title Marine Corps Band of the Year 2012 was achieved. He also was the conductor for the Okinawa Wind Symphony, a community band in which he started for active-duty members, DoD dependents and employees, and Japanese nationals. From July 2013 to July 2016, Giove was assigned as the Officer in Charge of the Parris Island Marine Band at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and Co-Director and Founder of the Lowcountry Wind Symphony.

Giove retired after 25 years of service from the Marine Corps and served as the Director of Bands at Johnson High School, in Gainesville, Georgia, an Educational/Artist Endorser for the Avedis Zildjian Company, freelance artist and conductor, drummer for the Carrollton Jazz Orchestra, Associate Conductor for the Northwinds Symphonic Band, and an Adjunct Professor of Applied Percussion at Brenua University.

He has performed for millions of people in the U.S. and overseas. He has composed and arranged music for the concert band, field band, jazz band, jazz combo and brass quintet. In addition, he has been a guest performer/conductor for bands in the U.S. and the Far East, and the Director for the Marine Corps All Star Jazz Band. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (Gold Star in lieu of the Third Award), the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, fourth award and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, fourth award. He is married to a former Marine musician Erin Giove, with three sons, all Marines, Trevor, Stephen and Blaise.