A native of Saskatoon, he holds degrees from the University of Saskatchewan (B.Mus.) and Northwestern University (M.Mus.). He maintains a busy schedule outside his university teaching career as a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician, and adjudicator. Allen has appeared as a concerto soloist with more than a dozen orchestras in Canada, Europe, and South America. He has given countless recitals across Canada, including recital tours for Debut Atlantic, Prairie Debut, and Home Routes Classical. He has received rave reviews for three of his CDs recently released on the Ravello Records label: Metropolis, The Postcard Sessions, and Vanishing Point. On bassoon, Allen plays as a regular extra with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and second bassoon with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.