The Associate Director of Instrumental Arts at The King’s Academy was presented with the award at Palm Beach Symphony’s Eighth Annual Holly Jolly Symphony Fête
Palm Beach Symphony named Mickey Smith Jr. the 2024 Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year. Smith, who serves as Associate Director of Instrumental Arts at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach where he instructs students in 4th through 12th grade, was recognized during Palm Beach Symphony’s Eighth Annual Holly Jolly Symphony Fête at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach.
Smith was awarded coaching sessions and/or masterclasses by Palm Beach Symphony musicians at his school during the spring semester; a classroom visit and coaching by Palm Beach Symphony Music Director Gerard Schwarz; an invitation for a student music ensemble to perform at a Symphony event; complimentary tickets for him to attend a Masterworks concert with his students; a framed certificate; and a gift basket of indulgences.
Since joining The King’s Academy in 2022, Smith has increased band enrollment by more than 225% and has retained 90% of band members. He introduced an after-school jazz and improvisation class called The Junior Jazz Experience and created a middle school percussion ensemble. With Smith’s guidance, a King’s Academy student became the first middle school student in 20 years to make the All-County Jazz Band.
Smith welcomes other educators into his classroom to observe his teaching methods and collaborate. He also serves as a King’s Academy ambassador by sharing inspirational and innovative teaching practices with educators nationwide. He previously worked as Director of Instrumental Music at The Greene School, also located in West Palm Beach.
A Louisiana native, Smith is also a recipient of the prestigious GRAMMY Music Educator Award and is an 8-time Teacher of the Year award winner from various schools where he’s taught. Throughout his nearly two-decade career, he has developed and grown band programs in Louisiana, Texas and Florida. Smith helps young people realize what they are capable of through music, leading them to discover their personal sound. He’s shared his unique combination of message and music with thousands of students as a teacher, all-state conductor and clinician across North America.
Additionally, Smith is an acclaimed saxophonist and international keynote speaker and presenter, spreading his message to “Keep on Going.” He blends the roles of educator and entertainer to create a one-of-a-kind, dynamic experience that entertains, educates and elevates everyone to excellence. He’s a member of the National Association for Music Education, Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Music Educators Association and Phi Beta Mu. Smith earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana and currently resides in West Palm Beach with Eugenia, his wife of over 20 years, and their two children, all of whom are musicians.
“Mickey truly brings the Palm Beach Symphony’s mission to engage, educate and entertain to life each and every day,” said Palm Beach Symphony CEO David McClymont. “We had a very impressive pool of nominees to select from this year. It was difficult for the panel to choose just one, but it is clear why Mickey is very deserving of the honor. The Symphony applauds him and all music educators in Palm Beach County for their great work. We encourage nominators to submit their favorite teachers again next year for consideration.”
The Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year Award was underwritten by Carol and Joseph Andrew Hays. Every year since 2018, Palm Beach Symphony has presented the award to an extraordinary music teacher who has an outstanding instructional technique and ability to nurture, connect with and inspire students. The award goes to a K-12 educator in a public, private or charter school in Palm Beach County with a minimum of three years of experience as a band or orchestra instructor. Winners are also active community leaders and demonstrate respect and integrity in working with students, parents and colleagues. For more information and to see a complete list of previous winners, go to PalmBeachSymphony.org.
Palm Beach Symphony’s education programs are made possible through support from The Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Music, Jacqueline and Ray K. Farris, The McNulty Charitable Foundation, James R. Borynack and Adolfo Zaralegui/Findlay Galleries, Herbert H. and Barbara C. Dow Foundation, Mr. William Robertson, Charles Frederick Schmidt, The Annette Urso Rickel Foundation, Edith Hall Friedheim/Eric Friedheim Foundation, PNC Foundation, The Walter & Adi Blum Foundation, Inc., James H. and Marta T. Batmasian Family Foundation Inc., Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. Foundation Inc., Komansky Foundation, Josephine DuPont Bayard, Al Zucaro, Yvonne S. Boice Trust and Lois Pope, with additional funding from Cultural Council for Palm Beach County Arts and Cultural Education Fund, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Proud sponsors of Palm Beach Symphony include Cindy and Jerome Canty, Mrs. James N. Bay, Carol and Harold Baxter, C. Kenneth and Laura Baxter Foundation, Inc., JoAnne Berkow, Kathy Lee Bickham and John Bickham, Leslie Rogers Blum, Yvonne S. Boice Trust and Alfred Zucaro, Jeffrey and Tina Bolton, James R. Borynack and Adolfo Zaralegui / FINDLAY Galleries, Jerome J. Claeys, Thomas and Carol Bruce, CIBC Private Wealth, Amy and John Collins, The Colony Hotel, CORPGOV, Suzanne Mott Dansby, The David Minkin Foundation, Michelle DuBois and James Roiter, Jacqueline and Ray K. Farris, Mary and Will Demory, Herbert H. and Barbara C. Dow Foundation, Willard H. Dow and Kelly Winter, Dr. Richard and Diane Farber, Bill and Kem Frick/The Frick Foundation, Inc., Edith Hall Friedheim/Eric Friedheim Foundation, Gerry Gibian and Marjorie Yashar, Paul and Sandra Goldner, Douglas and Jo Gressette, Irwin and Janet Gusman, Walter Harper, Thomas E. Harvey & Cathleen P. Black Foundation, Doris Hastings Foundation, Carol S. and Joseph Andrew Hays, John Herrick, Addison Hines Charitable Trust, George Hines, HSS Florida, IPO Edge, Charles and Ann Johnson/The C and A Johnson Family Foundation, Elaine Kay, Aban and Percy Kavasmaneck, Leonard and Norma Klorfine Foundation, The Kovner Foundation, Gary and Linda Lachman/The Lachman Family Foundation, Patricia Lambrecht/The Lambrecht Family Foundation, Lugano Diamonds, Donald C. McGraw Foundation, The Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, The McNulty Charitable Foundation, Tish Messinger, David Moscow, Palm Beach Design Masters, Patrick and Milly Park/Park Foundation, Nancy and Ellis J. Parker, III, PNC Private Bank, Lois Pope, Provident Jewelry, Ari Rifkin/The Len-Ari Foundation, Dr. Martha Rodriguez and Dr. Jesus Perez-Mendez, Annette Urso Rickel Foundation, Karen Hunt Rogers, The Honorable Ronald A. Rosenfeld, David Schafer, Seth Sprague Foundation, Robin B. Smith, Kimberly V. Strauss, Dodie and Manley Thaler and the Thaler/Howell Foundation, Don and Mary Thompson, Jerome and Carol Trautschold, Sieglinde Wikstrom/The Wikstrom Foundation, and The Ann Eden Woodward Foundation/James and Judy Woods.
ABOUT PALM BEACH SYMPHONY
Palm Beach Symphony is South Florida’s premier orchestra known for its diverse repertoire and commitment to community. Founded in 1974, this 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization adheres to a mission of engaging, educating, and entertaining the greater community of the Palm Beaches through live performances of inspiring orchestral music. The orchestra is celebrated for delivering spirited performances by first-rate musicians and distinguished guest artists. Recognized by The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County with a 2020 Muse Award for Outstanding Community Engagement, Palm Beach Symphony continues to expand its education and community outreach programs with children’s concerts, student coaching sessions and master classes, instrument donations and free public concerts that have reached more than 75,000 students in recent years. For more information, visit www.palmbeachsymphony.
