Allen is a graduate of MacMurray College (Education with K-12 certification and an emphasis in voice and organ.) He studied organ with Michael Fisher at MacMurray. He has studied choral conducting with Robert Shaw and Sandra Willetts. His parents currently live in Strasburg. Allen is a graduate of Bethany (Illinois) High School.
Allen was director of music and youth at Wesley UMC in Canton, IL; director and organist at First United Methodist Church in Decatur; Minister of Music and organist at First United Methodist in Ashland, Kentucky; Minister of Music at Moody Memorial United Methodist Church in Galveston, Texas; Minister of Music and organist at Asbury United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Minister of Music at Polk Street United Methodist Church in Amarillo, Texas.
As a hobby, Allen runs an antique shop in Tuscola IL.