Tim Smith, Bands • (916) 278-7571 • Send Email

Timothy M. Smith is the newly appointed Associate Director of Bands and Lecturer in Music Education at California State University, Sacramento, as well as Music Director/Conductor of the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra.

Prior to his appointment at Sacramento State, he served for twenty-two years as Professor of Music at California State University, East Bay. During his tenure at CSUEB, he served as Director of Bands, conducting the University Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Chamber Winds Ensembles and teaching in the areas of Instrumental Music Education, Conducting and Music Literature. Tim was Music Director/Conductor of the CSUEB University Symphony Orchestra from 1999-2003 and served a three-year term as Chair of the Department of Music from 2001-2004. During his twenty-one years of leadership, the University Band Program grew in size and stature, and was recognized for innovative programming and superb musicianship in performance. Under Professor Smith’s baton over thirty new works for wind band, composed by CSUEB faculty, students and alumni received their premier performances.  During this time, the CSUEB University Wind Ensemble performed at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Western/Northwestern Division Conference, the California Music Educator’s Association (CMEA) State In-Service Conference, the California Band Directors Association (CBDA) Conference, the CMEA Bay Section Conference, and as a featured ensemble at the Western States Collegiate Wind Band Festival.

In the four seasons under Maestro Smith’s leadership, the CSUEB University Symphony Orchestra became a viable and vital performing ensemble in the department. Highlights of these seasons include the formal involvement of string faculty with the orchestra, establishing an orchestral residency for a young professional string quartet, expanding concert programming to include a wide variety of literature for both full and chamber orchestra, prominently featuring faculty as soloists with the orchestra, expanding the orchestra’s exposure to repertoire through regular reading of literature for full orchestra, chamber orchestra, string orchestra and orchestral winds and percussion, and  establishing a formal relationship between the University Symphony Orchestra and the University Opera Program.

In addition to his teaching, Professor Smith is in great demand as a guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician.  He has conducted high school and junior high school honor orchestras and bands throughout the western, northwestern and mid-western states. Mr. Smith’s wind band engagements have included two appearances with the CBDA All-State High School Honor Band, the Northern California Band Directors (NCBDA) High School Honor Band, the Northern California Band Association (NCBA) Honor Band, the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association High School (SCSBOA) Honor Band, the Northern California Junior High School Honor Band and nearly every district, regional and county level honor band in Northern California. Professor Smith has appeared numerous times as a clinician/conductor at regional, state-wide, and divisional conferences of CMEA, CBDA, CODA, SCSBOA and CBDNA. As an orchestral conductor Professor Smith has conducted the Oregon Music Educators Association (OMEA) All-State Orchestra, appeared three times with the California Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) High School Honor Orchestra, twice with the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Bay Section High School String Orchestra, and conducted several regional, county, and district level honor orchestras in California and Nevada.

Professor Smith holds degrees in Horn Performance, Conducting and Music Education, is a former member of the Stockton, Modesto, and Spokane (WA) Symphonies, and an active freelance player in the San Francisco Bay Area. Involved in music education on several different levels, Professor Smith has served on the CMEA and CBDA state boards, as well as the CMEA Bay Section board. He was named the California Music Educators Association Bay Section’s “Outstanding Music Educator of 2006.” For several years he was Music Director of the multi-level Youth Orchestra of Southern Alameda County, conducting the YOSAC Symphony Orchestra.  Tim conducted the Senior Camp Orchestra at the Hayward-La Honda Music Camp for several years, celebrated his 20th year in the summer of 2007 as a member of the La Sierra Fine Arts Camp teaching staff, and has been guest conductor at the Cazadero Performing Arts Camp several times as well.