Dr. Derrick Smith serves as Assistant Professor of Music & Director of Bands for the Department of Music and College of Visual & Performing Arts at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, where he leads the University Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and the world renowned Mighty Marching Hornets, in addition to teaching beginning and advanced conducting, a marching band techniques class for music education majors, and applied trumpet lessons.

A native of Mobile, Alabama, Dr. Smith is a proud alumnus of Alabama State University having completed both the Bachelor of Music Education degree, and the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree at Alabama State University, along with a Master of Arts in Music Education degree from the University of Alabama.

As a doctoral student at the University of Alabama, Dr. Smith served as a graduate teaching assistant, primarily as a conducting associate with the University Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble, in addition to serving as a staff member with the Million Dollar Band at UA. Prior to beginning his Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Band Conducting with a secondary concentration in Trumpet Performance at UA, Dr. Smith served as Director of Bands at Minor Middle School in Alabaster, Alabama, and as Director of Bands at Palmer Pillans Middle School in Mobile, Alabama.

Dr. Smith is a member of the Alabama Music Educators Association and Alabama Band Masters Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the College Band Directors National Association, in addition to Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.