Claude T. Smith

Photo of Claude T. Smith

Claude T. Smith was born in Monroe City, Missouri on March 14, 1932. He began his undergraduate degree at Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri, eventually enlisting in 1952 and serving in the 371st U.S. Army Band during the Korean War. After his service, he completed his Bachelor of Music Education degree at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

Smith composed over 180 works for band, orchestra, choir, solos, small ensembles as well as three method books for band and orchestra. His compositions have been commissioned and performed by leading musical organizations throughout the world including the U.S. Air Force Band, the “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band, the U.S. Navy Band, and the U.S. Army Field Band. His solos were written for noted artists such as “Doc” Severinsen, Dale Underwood, Brian Bowman, Warren Covington, Gary Foster, Rich Matteson, and Steve Seward.

Smith was first published in 1964 with his work for band Emperata Overture. This led to many other works being published by Jenson Publications, Inc. (now Hal Leonard) and Wingert-Jones Music, Inc. where he was also an educational consultant. His composition Flight was adopted in 1984 as the “Official March” of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute. His orchestral works were written for many ensembles, including the Kansas City (MO) Youth Symphony, South Bend (IN) Youth Symphony, Springfield (MO) Symphony Orchestra, and the 1981 Missouri All-State String Orchestra.

Smith taught instrumental music in the public schools of Nebraska and Missouri. He also served as a member of the faculty of Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield where he taught composition and theory, and conducted the University Symphony Orchestra. Sacred music was also a deep passion of Smith as he directed church choirs for five years in Cozad (NE), 10 years in Chillicothe (MO), and 10 years in Kansas City (MO).

Smith was active as a clinician and guest conductor throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, and Europe. He received many awards for his contributions to music education and for his work in composition including numerous ASCAP Composers Award. Following his death, he was awarded the National Band Association Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts (AWAPA) Award (1987), honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Central Methodist College (1988), Missouri Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame (1988), Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service to Music Medal (1988), Missouri Music Educators Association Hall of Fame (1992), and named School Director of the Year from the Christian Instrumental Directors Association (1994).

Smith was a member of the Music Educators National Conference (now NAfME), Missouri Bandmasters Association, National Band Association, American Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and served as past president of the Missouri Music Educators Association.

Claude T. Smith passed away on December 13, 1987 in Kansas City, Missouri having completed a Christmas Concert at church. His wife, Maureen Faye Smith and his daughter, Pam Smith Kelly, along with Pam’s husband, Jim, founded Claude T. Smith Publications, Inc. in 1993, and C.L. Barnhouse Co. became the exclusive distributor for his instrumental works in 2016 with the mission of keeping the music of Claude T. Smith alive and in the hearts of musicians worldwide.

Publications by Claude T. Smith

  • Prelude On An Early American Folk Hymn

    Prelude On An Early American Folk Hymn

    My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

    Hymn Tune: Resignation/arr. C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 4

    CTS-8152-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8152-00
  • Black Watch

    Black Watch

    Concert March

    C. T. Smith/arr. Earp

    Flex Band edition

    Full set | Extra score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 3

    CTS-8007-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8007-00
  • The Boys of the Old Brigade

    The Boys of the Old Brigade

    W. P. Chambers/ed. C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 4

    CTS-8165-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8165-00
  • Canticle: All Creatures Of Our God And King

    Canticle: All Creatures Of Our God And King

    For Concert Band

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 4

    CTS-8162-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8162-00
  • Christmas Carols Rhapsody

    Christmas Carols Rhapsody

    C. T. Smith/arr. Earp

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 3

    CTS-8110-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8110-00
  • Commemoration Fanfare And Chorale

    Commemoration Fanfare And Chorale

    For Orchestra

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 3.5

    CTS-8155-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8155-00
  • Commemoration Fanfare And Chorale

    Commemoration Fanfare And Chorale

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 3

    CTS-8157-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8157-00
  • Fantasia For Alto Saxophone

    Fantasia For Alto Saxophone

    C. T. Smith

    Piano accompaniment edition

    Solo Alto Saxophone with piano accompaniment | Extra Piano/Conductor score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 6

    CTS-8153-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8153-00
  • Fantasia For Alto Saxophone

    Fantasia For Alto Saxophone

    C. T. Smith

    Concert band accompaniment edition

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 5

    CTS-8166-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8166-00
  • Fantasia For Alto Saxophone

    Fantasia For Alto Saxophone

    C. T. Smith/arr. Kidd

    Full orchestra accompaniment edition

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 5

    CTS-8147-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8147-00
  • Festival Variations

    Festival Variations

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 6

    CTS-8151-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8151-00
  • Flight

    Flight

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 4.5

    CTS-8164-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8164-00
  • Flourish, Song And Toccata

    Flourish, Song And Toccata

    For Orchestra

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 4

    CTS-8148-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8148-00
  • Golden Regiment

    Golden Regiment

    Concert March

    C. T. Smith/arr. Earp

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 2

    CTS-8113-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8113-00
  • Inscriptions For Band

    Inscriptions For Band

    For Concert Band

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 4

    CTS-8160-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8160-00
  • Joyance

    Joyance

    for Orchestra

    C. T. Smith

    Full Orchestra Edition

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 5

    CTS-8027-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8027-00
  • Jubilee For Winds

    Jubilee For Winds

    For Concert Band

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 5

    CTS-8149-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8149-00
  • Jubilo, A Concert Overture

    Jubilo, A Concert Overture

    For Band

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 4

    CTS-8158-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8158-00
  • Legacy For Band

    Legacy For Band

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 4

    CTS-8159-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8159-00
  • Overture For A Celebration

    Overture For A Celebration

    For Orchestra

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 5

    CTS-8163-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8163-00
  • Overture On An Early American Folk Hymn

    Overture On An Early American Folk Hymn

    For Orchestra

    C. T. Smith

    Full Orchestra Edition

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 5

    CTS-8051-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8051-00
  • Overture On An Early American Folk Hymn

    Overture On An Early American Folk Hymn

    For Concert Band

    C. T. Smith

    Concert Band Edition

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 4

    CTS-8167-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8167-00
  • Rejoice In Glorious Hope

    Rejoice In Glorious Hope

    (Rejoice, the Lord is King)

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Extra condensed score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 4

    CTS-8146-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8146-00
  • Star Song

    Star Song

    C. T. Smith/arr. Earp

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 2.5

    CTS-8115-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8115-00
  • Suite For String Orchestra

    Suite For String Orchestra

    C. T. Smith

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score

    Grade: 4

    CTS-8156-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    CTS-8156-00