Michael Smith

About

Education: D.M.A., Trombone Performance and Literature, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; M.M.E., McNeese State University; B.M., Trombone Performance, Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Michael Smith is currently Professor of Music (Low Brass) at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he teaches applied low brass (alto, tenor, and bass trombones, euphonium, tuba), low brass methods, coaches small brass ensembles, and conducts the Luther College Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble and the Luther College Trombone Choir.  He holds a Bachelor of Music from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, a Master of Music Education from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and a doctorate in Trombone Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  His awards from the University of Illinois include the Robert Gray Trombone Award, the Albert A. Harding Award, and the Mark H. Hindsley Award. He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Alpha Chi, and Phi Kappa Phi.

Prior to his appointment at Luther College, Dr. Smith taught at Millikin University, Knox College, and at the University of Illinois as the head teaching assistant in the trombone studio from 1996-1999. 

Dr. Smith has taught and performed at the Illinois Summer Youth Music Trombone Camps at the University of Illinois, the Georgia Honors Low Brass Choir at Valdosta State University, the Illinois Honors Trombone Choir (in Chicago and Champaign-Urbana), Louisiana Trombones (Lafayette), and was the co-founder and conductor of the University of Illinois High School Laboratory Trombone Choir.  He has also taught at the Luther College Band Festivals and Luther College Summer Dorian Camps for more than 20 years.  In January 2023, Dr. Smith was a guest artist, clinician, and conductor at the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica (National Conservatory of Music) Trombone Day Event in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Under the direction of Dr. Smith, the Luther College Low Brass Ensembles have performed at the Iowa All State Music Festival, the Closing Ceremony of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum at Augsburg College, and the Great Plains Regional Tuba and Euphonium Conference at Iowa State University.  The Luther Low Brass Ensembles perform every semester on the Brass Ensembles Concert Series at Luther College and since 2013, have performed their annual Low Brass Christmas in the Union.  

Dr. Smith has more than 50 published compositions, which include both arrangements and original works for trombone choir, brass choir, tuba-euphonium ensemble, brass quintet, and bass trombone.  Smith’s works are published by both TAP Music and Ensemble Publications and can be found at Hickey’s Music Center in Ithaca, NY.  His most recent composition, The Order of the Knights Templar, was written for low brass ensemble (tenor trombones, bass trombones, euphoniums, tubas) and premiered at the Luther College Low Brass Reunion Concert on 7/26/25. 

Dr. Smith has performed at the 1997 International Trombone Festival at the University of Illinois and presented at 2018 International Trombone Festival at the University of Iowa.

In 2020, Dr. Smith was joined by one of his former Luther College students, Dr. Benjamin Yates ‘08, currently Associate Professor of Music (Low Brass) at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, for a series of virtual masterclasses and performances presented at the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, University of Illinois, Louisiana State University, McNeese State University (LA), University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.   

One of Smith’s recent performance projects (2024) included a series of lecture recitals titled The Evolution of Low Brass and Electronics, which outlines the earliest use of low brass instruments with electronically generated accompaniment.  Also discussed is the history and development of the Moog Synthesizer in the mid-1960s, which was a direct catalyst for the rise of electronic music studios in the U.S. and Canada.  This multimedia recital series includes performances of some of the newest works for low brass and fixed electronics, which were performed on alto, tenor, and bass trombones, and euphonium.  The composition PM2.52 was written for alto trombone and electronics for this performance series by Dr. Brooke Joyce, Composer-in-Residence at Luther College.   Performance locations included Luther College (IA), St. Norbert College (WI), University of Northern Iowa, Northwestern State University (LA), University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Northwestern State University (LA), McNeese State University (LA), and at the 2024 Great Plains Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conference at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Dr. Smith has also created the MKS Cutaway Mouthpiece, a unique diagnostic tool for brass players.  His company can be found online at MKSCutaway.com.  

Dr. Smith is president and co-founder of The International Music Education Project, an Iowa non-profit corporation with federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.  Additional International Music Education Project (IMEP) founding members also include Luther colleague Dr. Juan Tony Guzman, and Luther graduate and former trombone student, Dr. Benjamin Yates, who is currently Associate Professor of Music and Low Brass at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  The current objective of the IMEP is to provide band and orchestra instruments, sheet music, and music supplies to underserved communities in the Dominican Republic.  

Dr. Smith and Luther colleague, Dr. Tony Guzman, received the Luther College Tomson Family Fellowship Award to further their philanthropic endeavors in the Dominican Republic.  In August 2026, Smith and Guzman, along with Dr. Benjamin Yates, are planning on performing at The Dominican Trombonists Association National Convention in Santo Domingo, and will present masterclasses and recitals in the cities of Santiago, La Vega, Puerto Plata, La Romana, and San Pedro.  

Dr. Smith has served as the principal trombonist with the University of Illinois Wind Symphony under the baton of James F. Keene. As a member of the Illinois Wind Symphony, Dr. Smith went on tour to Great Britain and was also a soloist with the ensemble. He also was a soloist and made two U. S. tours with the University of Illinois Trombone Choir. He has performed with the Longview Symphony Orchestra (TX), Rapides Symphony Orchestra (LA), Lake Charles Symphony (LA), Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera (IL), Decatur Symphony (IL), Danville Symphony (IL), Champaign-Urbana Symphony (IL), the Rochester Symphony Orchestra – principal trombone (MN), Dorian Opera Theatre Orchestra (IA), the Dubuque Symphony (IA), Cedar Falls-Waterloo Symphony (IA), and the Cedar Rapids Symphony (IA).  He is currently the bass trombonist with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra (MN), a position he has held since 2007.  His teachers include J. Mark Thompson, William Rose, Nathaniel Brickens, and Elliot Chasanov.