A native of Charleston, SC Todd B. Smith is the Director of Bands at Sangaree Middle School in Ladson, SC. Mr. Smith holds a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he was a graduate assistant with the world-renowned Marching Illini, conductor with the concert bands, and an active ensemble performer. Mr. Smith also devoted much time to music education research specializing in music medicine and technology. Prior to his graduate studies Mr. Smith graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelors in Music Education. While at USC he was an avid performer in the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Left Bank Big Band, Trumpet Choir, as well as a section leader in the “Mighty Sound of the Southeast” Marching Band.

As an educator, Mr. Smith has taught both band and orchestra in grades 5-12. In his first year at SRMS Mr. Smith received Superior rating with Distinction at the state concert assessment and was also awarded the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award. Prior to SRMS he was one of the Band Directors at Dubose Middle School in Dorchester District 2. During his time at DuBose he helped to reset the band to a fully functioning program following the pandemic. This included all facets of school band as well as the reinstatement of the DMS Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Program as well as representation in the SCBDA Region and All-State Bands. The DMS Band program was awarded multiple Superior ratings as well obtaining the SCBDA Outstanding Performance award in 2023.

Before his time in DD2 Mr. Smith was an active educator in Berkeley County School District .Under his direction, the Bands of Stratford’s concert, jazz, and chamber music programs have all earned consistent superior ratings at their respective state festivals. The Stratford Marching Knights vastly grew under Mr. Smith’s direction winning several classifications, captions, as well as being consistent finalists at the state marching contest. In 2019 the Marching Knights were named the 4A Lowerstate Champions and winners of the High Music Caption. Mr. Smith is also the founder of the Stratford Wind Orchestra, an ensemble modeled after Japanese high school wind bands and their pedagogy. In recent years the Stratford Wind Orchestra was the featured ensemble for the 2018 SCMEA In-Service Conference and the 2019 University of South Carolina Band Clinic. In 2020 the SWO was recognized as one of the top ensembles in the nation by being selected as one of sixteen bands to perform at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. During his tenure the Stratford Band has consistently received the SC Outstanding Performance Award, has been awarded two Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association, and was named the 2019 “Program of Note” by South Carolina Band Directors Association.

Before his appointment at SHS Mr. Smith was the Director of Bands at Cane Bay Middle School expanding the program to include multiple concert bands, chamber ensembles, an increase in honor band acceptance, as well as earning the school’s first Superior Rating with Distinction at the state concert festival.

Prior to joining Berkeley County Mr. Smith taught at Hilton Head Island High School creating the most comprehensive program in Beaufort County consisting of 2 Concert Bands, a Jazz Band and Combo, a Percussion Ensemble, a Symphony Orchestra, and a competitive Marching Band. All ensembles performed extensively throughout the year and were awarded multiple superior ratings as well as other various honors. Mr. Smith is also an active clinician working with middle and high school groups, giving brass masterclasses, and conducting honor band clinics.

Passionate about Japanese wind band music, pedagogy, and culture Mr. Smith has conducted observations at several Japanese institutions including Inagakuen High School, Senzoku Gakuen College, and with the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. This study has led to the creation of a presentation titled “Japanese Training Methods for Winds: Culture, Resources, and Pedagogy” most recently given at the 2020 SC Music Educators Association Conference.

Maintaining an active schedule as a musician Mr. Smith has performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, North Charleston Pops Orchestra, HALO Opera, Charleston Opera Theatre, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Southcoast Symphony, Manchester Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Wind Symphony, Charlestowne Brass Quintet, and served as lead trumpet for over 250 shows at The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. He has studied trumpet with John Spitler, Brian Osborn, David Gordon, Keith Amstutz, James Ackley, and legendary Canadian Brass trumpeter Ronald Romm. Mr. Smith also maintains a private trumpet studio with student successes ranging from all-state ensembles to membership in Drum Corps International.

His professional affiliations include NAFME, SCBDA, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, The International Trumpet Guild, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Smith resides in Summerville, SC with his wife Kindall N. Smith, classical saxophonist, their two year old daughter Maeve who they call MaeMae, and their blue nose pit-bull Winnie.