Thirty years ago I helped found an organization that has given me the opportunity to become acquainted with some of the finest music educators in America and Canada. My life is so intertwined with Heritage Festivals that I wonder how I will untangle my psyche from the company when I retire on July 1.
It all began in a small office with a folding table, one of the heaviest old electric typewriters ever manufactured, a few telephones, and some valued partners. From the earliest days, advertising in The Instrumentalist helped to spread our message to the music community.
When we began our journey to create an organization that would be of value to music education, there were very few adjudicated music festivals operated by privately held organizations. We had the opportunity to help design the parameters of successful festival events.
Expanding into bowl game halftime shows gave us an opportunity to work with such major college football year-end events as the Sugar, Gator, and Orange Bowl games and many others. We relied on our college music experts to arrange music and design field placement.
One of the great benefits to me of hiring the adjudicators for our festivals has been to meet and cooperate with college band and orchestra directors from across the nation in making a contribution to music education in secondary schools. I have listened to many clinics by adjudicators that produced immediate improvements to an ensemble’s sound and their approach to music.
Over the years I have become acquainted with wonderful school band and orchestra directors and admired their remarkable commitment to students. Several years ago a district superintendent who had risen through the coaching ranks told me that he had never in his career seen the work ethic and commitment that the music students and directors in his district exemplified.
Several other organizations, including several competitors, have also played major roles in developing this industry that has been so kind to me. I appreciate their contributions and cooperative efforts that have helped all of us.
I’ve lived through recessions, natural disasters, terrorist activities, and other factors that made our cooperative music education efforts harder to bring to fruition. But through it all, the directors, adjudicators, and our staff members somehow made the programs successful.
I have been blessed to have been considered a colleague by these wonderful people. The personal relationships that have been developed have enriched my life. I can’t imagine another path that would have brought me so much joy and satisfaction.
As I leave my close association with so many friends, all I can say is thank you. The memories will always be with me. I wish you continued success in helping to shape the lives of our young people through music.
– Kent Smith
Founder of Heritage Festivals
(Editor’s note: Friends may contact Mr. Smith at Klsmith9134@comcast.net.)
