Gary Smith

Gary Smith received his B.A. degree from Butler University and his M.A. degree from Ball State University. He started his career as Director of Bands at Northside High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1964–68. Following, he became the Director of Bands at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana, from 1968–72. Next, Gary was hired as Assistant Director of Bands and Marching Band Director from 1972–76 at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. From 1976–1998 and again in 2004, Gary was the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where he conducted the nationally renown Marching Illini, Basketball Band, and Symphonic Band II. He also taught marching band procedures, and band arranging in the School of Music. In 1988 Gary was elected to be a member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. In 2015, he was elected to serve as the president in 2018. In addition, he is a member of Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha, and Kappa Kappa Psi music honorary fraternities, and participates in the College Band Director’s National Association, National Band Association, and the Florida Music Educators Association. In 2005, he assisted with the production of the Orange Bowl Halftime. In 2007, Gary served as co-director of the Oklahoma Centennial All State Marching Band, which was featured during the 2007 Rose Bowl Parade opening ceremonies. In 2015, Gary designed and produced the Singapore Youth Honor Marching Band for the finale performance for Singapore’s 50th Anniversary of Independence Youth Celebration.