Matthew Joseph Smith, D.M.A.

About

Doctor of Musical Arts conductor and educator with nine years of full-time collegiate teaching and conducting experience across NCAA Division I and small-college environments, including appointments as Director of Athletic Bands at Butler University and Interim Director of Bands at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Background spans wind ensemble and symphonic band conducting, marching and pep band direction, undergraduate and graduate conducting pedagogy, mentorship of graduate conductors, and arranging for nationally televised athletic broadcasts.

Recent professional engagement includes a guest clinic at the University of Tampa Bands (November 2025), attendance at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago (December 2025), and active membership in the College Band Directors National Association. Committed to comprehensive band programs in which concert ensembles, athletic bands, and outreach function as an integrated educational system.

Collegiate Appointments

• Director of Athletic Bands2016 – 2022
  Butler University · Indianapolis, IN
• Interim Director of Bands & Director of Wind Ensembles2013 – 2016
  University of Tennessee at Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN
• Associate Director of Bands2012 – 2013
  Castleton State College (now Vermont State University) · Castleton, VT
• Doctoral Teaching Assistant2009 – 2012
  University of Connecticut · Storrs, CT
• Graduate Teaching Assistant2007 – 2009
  West Virginia University · Morgantown, WV
• Director of Bands2004 – 2007
  Charlotte Catholic High School · Charlotte, NC — grew enrollment 75 → 120 in three years

Education

• Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting2012
  University of Connecticut · Principal Conducting Teacher: Dr. Jeffrey Renshaw
• Master of Music in Conducting2009
  West Virginia University · Principal Conducting Teacher: John Hendricks
• Bachelor of Music Education2004
  University of Dayton · French Horn (Richard Chenoweth) · Conducting (Patrick Reynolds)

Selected Repertoire Conducted

A selection of works conducted at Butler University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the University of Connecticut, Castleton State College, and the Connecticut All-State Band. World and U.S. premieres marked.

• Bryant — Dusk
• Camphouse — A Movement for Rosa
• Chance — Incantation and Dance
• Copland — An Outdoor Overture
• Dello Joio — Scenes from the Louvre
• Gorb — Bells Across the AtlanticWorld Premiere
• Grainger — Ye Banks & Braes O' Bonnie Doon
• Hindemith — Konzertmusik, Op. 49
• Holst — First Suite in E♭; Second Suite in F
• Husa — Al Fresco
• Jacob — An Original Suite
• Mackey — Sasparilla
• de Meij — Symphony No. 1, “Lord of the Rings”
• Perrine — Forever RadiantWorld Premiere
• Persichetti — Symphony for Band, Op. 69
• Qarayev — Azerbaijani MarchU.S. Premiere
• Reed — Symphony No. III
• Shostakovich — Festive Overture
• Sousa / Smith — The Picador March; Nymphalin
• Ticheli — Cajun Folk Songs I
• Tommasini — Torn CanvasesWorld Premiere
• Whitacre — Sleep (Choir + Wind Ensemble)
• Williams — Symphonic Dance No. 2
• Wilson — FiveWorld Premiere

Marching Show Programming

Butler University Marching Band  2016 – 2022

“Rhapsody” — full-season unified concept tracing the rhapsody form from Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. Rotating themed productions: Funk & Soul · 1990s · Latin · Jazz · Emo · Patriotic.

UTC “Marching Mocs”  2013 – 2016

“Stages” (2014 season) — three integrated production frames from concert band material to symphonic literature to a musical-theater finale. Additional productions: Michael Jackson tribute · Latin · Halloween (UTC Band Day) · Patriotic.