On May 9th, 2024, The Smith County High School Department of Music will be hosting The 70th Annual Spring Festival. Spring Festival is the Music Department’s annual showcase of the Band and Choir programs at Smith County High School. The event will also feature a performance from the Smith County Middle School Band, an awards segment, as well as the crowning of the 2024 Band King and Queen. In years past, the Spring Festival witnessed incredible performances of some of the most well-known band and choir literature of all time.
In particular, Spring Festival is known for giving our community some of the most awe-inspiring musical performances of 5th-12th grade musicians in the Smith County School district. In years past, Spring Festival was led by band directors Steve Dowell, Bill Moore, Fowler Stanton, William and Ann Hunley.
This year, the concert will be led by Smith County Band Alumnus and Director of Bands, Les McDonald. In 2006, McDonald (former student of The Hunleys and Steve Dowell) made his solo debut as a guest trumpet soloist at the prestigious event, where he performed Herbert L Clarke’s famous solo, Carnival of Venice. At past concerts, McDonald was named the recipient of the Fowler Stanton Band Scholarship ,John Philip Sousa Award, The Music Medal Award, and Band King.
Tickets will go on sale Monday, April 8th, 2024 and can be purchased directly through the Smith County High School Band. General Admission is $5.00 while floor seats will be $10.
About the Director:
For an entire decade, McDonald played across the United States as a free- lance musician. In recent years, he taught music lessons for Metro Nashville Public Schools and has enjoyed his time as a performing musician in multiple genres of music. As a trumpeter, McDonald performed alongside groups such as the Boston Brass, Synergy Brass, The Tristar Brass Ensemble, Trevecca Symphony, Sewanee Symphony, Bryan Symphony Orchestra, and several jazz orchestras across the state of Tennessee. In commercial music, McDonald performed in productions such as Christmas at Belmont, and has recorded for music publications and companies such as Alfred Music and J.W. Pepper. In 2023, McDonald was named Band Director of the Smith County High School “Pride of the Upper Cumberland” Band. Since that time, the band received multiple honors, such as 2nd Place at the Northern Plateau Marching Championship in Livingston, TN and an invitation to march in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Parade, which will air on ESPN New Year’s Day 2025.
