Sean Dennison Smith

Sean Dennison Smith is pursuing a doctorate in conducting at Ball State University. He previously served as the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Illinois and became very involved with integration of marketing into band programs and exploring innovative concert programming. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, he had strong influences from his Puerto Rican heritage. Sean almost quit band in eighth grade but was presented a choice between marching band and football in high school. Selecting marching band was the best decision he ever made.

He completed his Master of Music degree in Conducting at the University of Illinois. Before attending Illinois, Sean completed a year of coursework at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. He has six years of public school teaching experience as Director of Bands in the Conneaut Area City Schools in Conneaut, Ohio. While in Conneaut, Sean taught bands from fifth grade through high school, directed the Conneaut High School Marching Band, and developed the music technology, guitar, and piano courses offered by the high school.

Before teaching Sean studied at Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio and received a Bachelor of Music Education. Sean received conducting experience at Baldwin Wallace as Conducting Apprentice for the Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble and student conductor for the Brass Choir and the l(a Contemporary Ensemble. Sean’s professional experiences include being the Music Director of the Euclid Civic Orchestra and working as a National Director for Bugles Across America.

Sean has been published in The Instrumentalist magazine and has presented clinics at the Ohio Music Education Association conference and New York State Band Director’s Association summer conference.