News Article

 

(October 2008) --- Step inside the doors of the Humanities Hall on the Lee campus of Edison State College and you know there’s a new music director in town.  

Dr. Thomas Smith, who this past August became only the second music director in the history of Edison State College, is more than likely standing in his office belting out a popular jazz tune on one his many trumpets, or playing alongside students and members of the Edison Jazz Ensemble, Edison Symphony Orchestra, or Edison Concert Band. 

 

Energetic, enthusiastic and brimming with excitement at the prospect of building upon Edison State’s existing music program, Smith can make even the most musically-challenged amongst us want to pick up an instrument and join in. 

 

His résumé is a near note perfect symphony of sharing his love for music as a professor and band director for schools in Texas and Georgia, and pursuing his own dreams of playing trumpet along side jazz greats such as Charlie Haden, Gunther Schuller and the Duke Ellington Repertory Orchestra, Jean Luc-Ponty and George Benson.

 

Ultimately, it was the serenade of the surf along the Gulf shore that brought him back to his home state of Florida and to his new position at Edison State College as professor of music and director of bands and orchestra. 

 

At Edison, Smith hopes to share his love of music with his students and inspire young people to pursue their dreams and appreciation for music. 

 

“I have been positively blown away by the talent of our student musicians here at Edison State, as well as the depth of talent we have in our community,” said Smith. “Our music program may be one of the best kept secrets in town.”

 

If Smith has his way though, Edison State’s music program won’t stay secret for long. With 15 years behind him working with high school and college students, Smith wants to expand the student base at Edison by working with local high schools to encourage more students who are interested in pursuing music studies, to consider Edison as their first choice for college.

 

According to Smith, many parents and students in our community don’t realize that Edison State has a two-year music program and students can get everything they need for the first two years of a four-year music program right here in their own backyard. 

 

“In addition to the lack of knowledge overall about our program, many people are surprised to hear that we have scholarships available for music students,” said Smith. “Unfortunately, that means many of our scholarships go unfilled each year, we need to change that.”

 

Smith earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music at Florida State University, and his doctorate in music arts at The University of Texas at Austin. 

 

His résumé extends beyond jazz performances and includes virtually every musical genre. He has performed with the Texas Chorale at the Victoria Bach Festival, the Georgia Bach Festival Orchestra, the Rome (Georgia) Symphony Orchestra and the North Georgia Winds. He has either played with, or opened for, rock, rhythm and blues greats such as Duck Soup, Disciples of Blues, Graham Central Station and Freddie Fender. A fan of musical theatre, pit orchestra performances include shows such as: Camelot with Richard Harris, Singin’ in the Rain, The King and I and Fiddler on the Roof.