Dr. Michael Smith is currently Associate Professor of Music (Low Brass) at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he teaches applied low brass and low brass methods, coaches small brass ensembles, and directs the Luther College Brass Choir, Trombone Choir and Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble.  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.  He has taught at the Luther College Summer Dorian Camps and the Illinois Summer Youth Music Trombone Camps at the University of Illinois.  He has been a guest clinician, soloist, and conductor at the Georgia Honors Low Brass Choir at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Ga., the Illinois Honors Trombone Choir in Chicago, the Illinois Honors Trombone Choir held at the University of Illinois, the Illinois Junior Trombone Symposium in Chicago, and was the co-founder and conductor of the University of Illinois High School Laboratory Trombone Choir.  In 2017, Dr. Smith served as an adjudicator for the euphonium artist division at the Great Plains Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conference at Iowa State University in Ames, IA.   

The Luther College Trombone Choir and Trombone Ensembles have performed at the Iowa Music Educators Association Conference, the Western Wisconsin Trombone Day and for the Closing Ceremony of the 25^th Nobel Peace Prize Forum at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN.  In 2017, the Luther College Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble performed at the Great Plains Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conference at Iowa State University in Ames, IA.

Dr. Smith has published close to 50 works for brass including original pieces for solo bass trombone, trombone choir, and brass choir and arrangements for trombone choir, tuba/euphonium ensemble, low brass ensemble and brass choir.  His works are published exclusively by TAP Music Sales and many are available at Hickey’s Music Center.

Dr. Smith was 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 was also a soloist and made two U. S. tours with the University of Illinois Trombone Choir.  He has performed with the St. John’s Brass Ensemble (University of Illinois), Luther College Faculty Norse Brass Quintet, Lutheran Summer Music Academy Pretorius Brass Quintet and with Stuart Dempster and David Taylor at the 1997 International Trombone Festival. 

Dr. Smith has also 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, Rochester Symphony Orchestra (MN), Dorian Opera Theatre Orchestra (IA), Dubuque Symphony (IA), Cedar Falls-Waterloo Symphony (IA) and the Cedar Rapids Symphony (Orchestra Iowa). 

Dr. Smith is currently the bass trombonist with the Rochester (MN) Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 2007.  His teachers include Elliot Chasanov, William Rose, J. Mark Thompson and Nathaniel Brickens.