BAND DIRECTORS & INSTRUCTORS

Jim Smith
Band Director

Houston High School Band Director Jim Smith has been teaching for twenty-six years, nineteen of which have been in Shelby County.  He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1981 from Mississippi State University and his Masters in Music Education from MSU in 1982.  He has completed several hours of additional course work beyond the Masters degree at University of Memphis and Cumberland University. 

Mr. Smith has garnered numerous highly notable awards during his teaching career.  Some of these honors are:  the 1985 Fayette County Teacher of the Year, the 1987 Outstanding Teacher Award at University of Tennessee at Martin, the 1990 Teacher of the Year awarded by Shadowlawn Middle School P.T.S.A., the 1999 Teacher of the Year awarded by the Houston High P.T.S.A., and recognition for excellence in teaching and directing at the Governor's School for the Arts.

In 2004 Mr. Smith was selected as the "Teacher Who Made a Difference," awarded by the Shelby County Board of Education.

Mr. Smith has served as facilitator at several in-service events at Houston High and chaired the music subject area committee in the original SACS report from the school in 1991.  He serves as judge, clinician and adjudicator for many band events throughout the mid-south.  He is a member of Music Educator's National Conference, West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, Tennessee Bandmasters Association, and the Tennessee Music Educator's Association.

He and his wife, Amy, have been married for almost 27 years and have two daughters, Faith and Mary Ann.  He likes golf, his family, golf, reading, golf, and Shania Twain.

 

Spencer Nesvick
Assistant Band Director

Spencer Nesvick began his appointment as Assistant Band Director of The Houston Band in 2008.  Mr. Nesvick is a former member of The Houston Band and a graduate of Houston High School and the University of Memphis.







 

 

Michael McCray
Drumline Instructor

Michael McCray is director of percussion programs for The Houston Band. Mr. McCray is the former marching percussion coordinator for the University of Memphis (1991-2002). Over the past 18 years, Michael has developed a sincere passion for providing quality instruction and leadership to young musicians throughout the Mid-South. Michael received his bachelors degree from the University of Memphis in organizational leadership and is also an accomplished music composer/arranger.

 

Color Guard Instructor
Erica Pardue

 

The HHS Color Guard is excited to welcome Ms. Erica Pardue as its instructor for 09-10 season.  A seasoned performer and instructor, Ms. Parude brings a wealth of knowledge and talent to HHS.  She has marched with the Memphis Sound, been a member of the University of Memphis Marching Band, and has served an instructor of the Fayette Academy Color Guard for the past four years.  During that time the Fayette Academy Color Guard won many awards and was second in the state for their division.  Ms. Pardue will be graduating soon from U of M with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish.