Dan Smith – from Santa Clara, California
Mr. Dan Smith (a long-time Music Educator) – holds a BA from San Jose’ State University and a MA from the University of Northern Colorado.
He is nationally known as an Arranger, Visual Designer, Clinician, Instructor, and as a Band Director – with his own Bands having performed a number of times in such nationally-televised events as the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, the Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl in Miami, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was during his tenure as Director of Bands that his Independence High School 76th Cavalry Band from San Jose’, California won the 1981 Bands of America National Championship.
Mr. Smith has now been involved as a Performer in Music & Pageantry for over 65 years, and has over 55 years experience as an Adjudicator & Adjudication Administrator for Music Festivals and Pageantry Competitions throughout the United States & Canada (including the World Championships for both DCI & WGI). He is a co-founder of the Western Band Association. And he is the Music Caption Chair for California State Band Championships.
After serving over 25 years as Manager of the Ohlone College Bands, and the last ten years as the Music Department Coordinator at Ohlone College in Fremont, California, Mr. Smith has retired as of the end of September 2023. He continues to be an active performer on French Horn & Tenor Horn in several major Bay Area music ensembles. He is a Charter Member of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps and former Instructor of SCV, Vanguard Cadets and SCV Winter Guard. He performed as French Horn Section Leader of the SCV Alumni Corps from 1997 through the 50th Anniversary of SCV in 2017. In recent years was inducted into both the Santa Clara Vanguard Hall of Fame and the National Buglers Hall of Fame. And in April 2023 he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the California Color Guard Circuit.
Mr. Smith is a US Air Force Veteran and a proud father and grandfather, with one of his sons recently retired after serving 20 years in the US Navy, his other son just retired after 23 years in the US Air Force, and his daughter-in-law currently serving in the US Air Force, with her 20-year retirement coming in April 2024.