Dr. Phillip M. Smith
Conductor, Composer, Arranger
Inspirer-in-chief!
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Remembering Dr. Phillip Mark SmithOn December 11, 2013, our beloved Dr. Smith lost his long and courageous battle with cancer. Words cannot express the depth of our loss. He was our inspiration, our mentor, our teacher, and a passionate advocate for engaging the world with music. His incomparable character and indomitable spirit allowed the Mariposa Grizzly Band to reach unheard of heights, from a Grammy Signature Schools Award to marching down Fifth Avenue in New York City's Veterans Day Parade, to the simple joy of playing for and supporting the greater Mariposa community. He will forever live on in every step marched and every glorious note played by his beloved Grizzly Band.
About Dr. Smith Dr. Smith originally began working with Mr. Bruce Williams at Mariposa Middle School in 1998. When Williams took over as Director of Bands at Mariposa County High School in 2001, Smith accompanied him as Associate Director and later as Color Guard Director. Dr. Smith wrote and arranged many of the selections performed by the band, wrote and designed half-time shows, shared conducting duties with the legendary Williams, and created the first color-guard for MCHS. that competed in the San Joaquin Valley Color Guard and Percussion Review. Upon William's retirement in 2008, Smith was assigned as Director of Bands for MCHS. Smith was a native of Texas and Mississippi. He attended college in Mississippi, and at Military Extension Branches of Virginia State University, University of Maryland, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, University of South Carolina, United States Military Institute of Higher Learning, New York Regents, Armed Forces School of Music (Advanced Course), Cambridge University, and Aberdeen College. He was Band Director of the Carrollton (Alabama) High School Band, and served for over two decades as an Army Bandsman. With the Army he served with Bands in Virginia, Washington D.C., Indiana, New York, South Carolina, Seoul Korea, Tungduchon Korea, Japan, Europe and Panama. He was an instrumentalist, arranger/composer, section leader, group leader and band-leader at various stages of his career. He retired from active service in 1992 and received a medical retirement from the Reserves early in 2011. Smith holds a Ph.D. in Military History, and an Ed.D. in Music Education (Composition). He has 76 published original compositions, and over 600 published arrangements for bands and orchestra. He was a founding member and principal tuba player for the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Smith was married for over three decades to the former Yong Song Kim of Seoul Korea. He has two adult sons (both MCHS. graduates), Ian Lee Smith, and Shawn Jun Smith (who was a drummer with the Grizzly Band and Sousa Award Winner). The Smith Family lives in Southern Mariposa County. Mariposa Gazette Article on Dr. Smith 
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