JOE SMITH

Joseph Smith is a percussionist, arranger, and educator from Rhode Island who is returning for his second year as Percussion Director in Commerce ISD. He enjoys running, spending time with animals, and being by large bodies of water. Since 2012, Mr. Smith has taught, composed, and arranged for various programs throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut including string orchestras, guitar programs, percussion ensembles, concert bands, marching bands, drum corps., and collegiate ensembles. Before moving to Texas, Mr. Smith served as a Front Ensemble technician for the Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps. of Nashua, New Hampshire, who then went on to win the 2019 DCI Open Class Championships.

Mr. Smith graduated in 2012 from Cranston High School East in Cranston, Rhode Island with musical focuses in Chamber Choirs and Indoor & Outdoor Marching Percussion. While pursuing his Associates in Music at the Community College of Rhode Island, Mr. Smith spent three years with the 7th Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps. of New London, Connecticut where he served as Front Ensemble section leader for two years. He later graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education and Orchestral Percussion Performance, studying under Dr. Kyle Forsthoff.

Mr. Smith is currently fulfilling his last year of coursework to complete his Master of Music degree at Texas University A&M – Commerce studying under Dr. Brian Zator, Lauren Teel, Kent Hillman, Cory Doran, and Sandi Rennick. He is a member of the National Association of Music Educators, the Texas Music Educators’ Association, and the Percussive Arts Society.