Gary Smith

University Of Illinois Bands(Retired), Florida Gulf Coast University Bands, Bonita Springs Concert Band

• BIO

  Gary received his B.A. degree from Butler University and his M.A. degree from Ball State University.
  
  From 1976 to 1998 and again in 2004, Gary was the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, Urbana - Champaign, where he conducted the nationally recognized Marching Illini, Basketball Band, Symphonic Band II, and taught marching band procedures and band arranging in the School of Music. 
  
  In 1988 Gary was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and was elected to serve as its 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.
  
  Presently, he serves as the producer of the annual Disney Thanksgiving Parade Of  Bands held at Disneyworld in Orlando, FL. In addition, he is the coordinator of the band festivities for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.  In addition, he serves as the conductor of the Bonita Springs Concert Band in Bonita Springs, FL.  As an adjunct faculty member at the Florida Gulf Coast University he teaches Marching Band Procedures and conducts a concert band.
  
  He is the author of, “The System:  Marching Band Methods”, which is used as a textbook in several universities courses and marching band clinics.
  
  
  
   

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