Travis Smith

Travis Smith is currently the Symphonic Wind Ensemble Director at Collin College in Plano and a Field Supervisor for Student Teachers at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Prior to this position, he was Director of Bands and Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Williams High School in Plano, Texas where he taught for thirty-three years, retiring is 2018. Prior to his position at Williams, he was Director of Bands and Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Ashdown High School in Ashdown, Arkansas for eight years. Bands under his direction have consistently rated superior in UIL Marching, Concert and Sightreading contest. In addition to receiving numerous sweepstakes awards, his bands have also been selected as Best in Class or named runner-up in at numerous invitational music festivals. His Williams High School Symphonic Band was the 1990 Texas Honor Band for the Four States Bandmasters Association Convention. His Williams Wind Ensemble has been awarded Outstanding Music Performance Awards at festivals in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. The 2015-2016 Williams Wind Ensemble was named “Best in Class" and was named the Most Outstanding High School Group at the festival by the judges at the PEAK Music Festival in Dallas. His 2017- 2018 Band was also received an Outstanding Performance award at the PEAK Music Festival in Dallas. 

Travis graduated from East Side High School in Cleveland, Mississippi in 1971. He attended Alcorn State University upon graduation from East Side High School and was a Presidential Scholar. After his freshmen year, he transferred to Delta State University where he received his bachelor and master’s degrees in music education. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu National Honorary Band Fraternity, the America School Band Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. Travis’ awards and honors include: "Teacher of the Year" at Williams High School for the 1988-89 school year and the "Ross Perot Excellence in Teaching Award,” the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, and named Music Alumnus of the Year by the Delta State University Department of Music in 1994. He has been selected for inclusion in several editions of “WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICA’S TEACHERS,” with the latest coming in 2001-2002 school year. He was inducted into the Delta State University Music Hall of Fame on January 26, 1997 and the Dallas Metroplex Musicians’ Associations Hall of Fame in January 30, 2016. He also was the recipient of the Plano Community Forum’s Educator of the Year Award in October of 2016. In the 2017-2018 school year, Travis was selected as “Teacher of the Year” at Williams High School in Plano and was in the top 10 of teachers and one of five secondary teachers chosen as a finalist for the Plano ISD District Teacher of the year. He was inducted to the Phi Beta Mu Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame class of 2021 on July 24, in San Antonio at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention. 

Travis has served on many region and state level music committees in Arkansas and Texas. He also served ten years at the national level as a member of the executive board of American School Band Directors Association and is currently the Texas ASBDA state membership chair. He has served as an adjudicator and guest clinician in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Tennessee. He is a Past President of the Four States Bandmasters Association, Past Band Division Chair for Region 3 of the Texas Music Educators Associations.