Oklahoma’s All Star Band Directors and Staff

MICHAEL DAVIS, Leader of the Band

Michael Davis recently retired as the Band and Orchestra director for the Walt Disney World® Resort. During his tenure with Walt Disney World, he conducted the Walt Disney World Band and Orchestra and appeared on national TV specials as “Major Mike”. Michael also served as manager of Atmosphere Talent at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. He was also responsible for the show concept, audition process and the operational procedures for Disney’s Collegiate All-Star musical ensembles. Although he has retired from Walt Disney World, he remains active, serving as a contract conductor, music director, and consultant.

Mr. Davis received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from VanderCook College of Music, Chicago, Illinois. He then attended the University of Wisconsin, Platteville and received a Masters of Science Degree in Teaching Music. His Postgraduate study was at the University of Wisconsin Madison in the Doctoral Program of Curriculum Instruction in Music.

Prior to Mike’s tenure at Walt Disney World, he was the Director of Bands and Percussion Instructor at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from 1977 to 1981. He was also Band Director and Percussion Instructor at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater from 1975 to 1977. From 1967 to 1975 he taught high school, middle school, and elementary band, orchestra, and chorus.

Mike was awarded a Doctor of Music Honaris Causa from VanderCook College of Music in 1994. Additionally, in 1981 he was awarded the “Orpheus Award” by Phi Mu Alpha for significant contribution to the cause of music in America. Mike received the Distinguished Service Award from VanderCook College of Music in 1991. Also in that year, he received the “Spirit of Disney” award and in 1998, he received Disney’s “Partners in Excellence Award”. Both of these awards are given to Cast Members at Walt Disney World for outstanding achievement. In 1997, he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.

Other honors and accomplishments that have been awarded to Mike are: From 1980 to 1984, he directed the All-American College Marching Band in the Magic Kingdom. In 1983, 1984, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001, he conducted the World’s Largest Concert for Music Educators National Conference at EPCOT, a nationally televised PBS special.
He has guest conducted the United States Air Force Band at Constitution Hall as a part of the Guest Artist Series and conducted Honor Bands at the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. Mike conducts musical groups throughout the United States and is a nationally recognized adjudicator and guest lecturer at major colleges and universities on music as a profession and conducting related subjects.
Among many other significant accomplishments, he has authored articles in support of arts education and developed teaching techniques for elementary and advanced bands.

In 1991, Mike prepared the musicians at Disneyland Paris for their first press conference and served on the music staff that opened Disneyland Paris. In 1997—1998, he directed the International College Bands at Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland. Prior to completing his tenure with Walt Disney World, Michael served as the music director for the opening of Tokyo Disney Seas in Tokyo, Japan.

He is also active on the Executive Board of Directors of Bands of America and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. His primary focus on the board for the Philharmonic is serving on the programming committee and the educational advisory committee. He is heavily involved in the United Arts Association and the promotion of live music performances. Most recently, Mike has been inducted in as member of the American Bandmasters Association.

CHARLES JONES II, Producer

Charles Jones, II is a native Oklahoman. After graduating from college, he served five years as a band director for two public schools systems in the State. Later, while attending law school, he was asked to serve as a band director at two different universities in Oklahoma.

He was the founder and superintendent of the State Fair of Oklahoma High School Honor Band. This unique program, the only one of its kind in America, gave aspiring young musicians the opportunity to learn what it’s like to be a professional musician, while having all of their expenses paid to perform.

After becoming an entertainment reporter for PBS television, Charles branched out into television programming by creating and producing two successful television programs for teens seen on several local NBC affiliates and on the cable network, Channel America. Both shows, “R.U. KIDding” and “TV Made From Scratch” received awards for originality and content.

Based on his successful track record, The Walt Disney Company hired him to provide management experience for its live entertainment division at the Walt Disney World Resort. His background as a music professor and talent search director for two performing arts universities provided him with a wealth of talent management experience.

In 1998, he left the Walt Disney Company to return as a consulting producer for its theme park division. Today, his company, Fresh Ideas Entertainment, is responsible for the video production of all Magic Music Days entertainment at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Currently he resides in Southern California.

In 2004, he was asked by the Oklahoma Centennial Commission to serve as the producer of Oklahoma’s All*Star Centennial Band. This unique program creates magical opportunities for young, talented and aspiring high school musicians who will serve as Oklahoma’s musical ambassadors as we celebrate the State’s one hundredth year.

GARY E. SMITH, Associate Director

From 1976 to 1998 and again in 2004 Gary was the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, Urbana - Champaign, where he conducted the nationally famous Marching Illini, Basketball Band, Symphonic Band I, and taught marching band procedures and band arranging in the School of Music. Previously he served as Assistant Director of Bands and Marching Band Director at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, Director of Bands at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana, and Director of Bands at Northside High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1988 Gary was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. In addition, he is a member of Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha, and Kappa Kappa Psi music honorary fraternities and participates in the College Band Director's National Association, National Band Association, and the Illinois Music Educators Association.

Recent awards include the University of Illinois Alumni Association "Outstanding Educator", The Mary Hoffman “Outstanding Music Educator” award, the "Spirit of the Illini" award from the Athletic Association and the Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service to Music Medal.

Gary has served as a consultant for the Ministry of Education in Singapore and the Sunshine Parade International in Cannes, France. He also serves as the parade, halftime and pregame coordinator for the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia and coordinated a portion of the 2005 Orange Bowl Halftime. In addition, Gary was a clinician and guest conductor for the Taiwan Band Director's International Summer Marching Band Camp, head clinician for the Sydney Australia Winds Young Conductors Workshop and will be conducting several honor bands in Tokyo in March 2005.

Gary Smith has served as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor in various high schools, conventions, colleges and district / all state bands throughout the United States and several countries. Several of his articles have been published in The Instrumentalist, The School Musician and the Band Director's Guide. Smith is the author of "The System," MARCHING BAND METHODS, which is used as a textbook in several University marching band courses and marching band clinics.

He received his B.A. degree from Butler University and M.A. degree from Ball State University.

ROBYN HILGER, Assistant Director

Robyn Hilger, a native Oklahoman and clarinetist, attended Oklahoma City University on a music scholarship. While at OCU, she played with the Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Philharmonic, and in the pit for sixteen productions of the Oklahoma Opera and Music Theatre Company. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1999 with her Bachelors Degree in Instrumental Music Education. Robyn served as an applied clarinet teacher to students in Mid-Del Public Schools, Mustang Public Schools, Western Heights Public Schools, and at the Performing Arts Academy at Oklahoma City University from 1996-1999. She is now the Fine Arts Team Leader and Band and Orchestra Director at Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School in Oklahoma City. Robyn started as an adjunct teacher when the school opened in 1999, the same year she was named Outstanding Music Education Student at Oklahoma City University. She is the founder of the Fine Arts Department for Belle Isle, which started with one 6th grade band and has grown to three bands, three orchestras, three choirs, speech, drama, debate and visual arts. The department now employs four full-time fine arts teachers.

Robyn is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence/Young Adult Music with specialization in Band. She was honored as the Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2004, then as the Oklahoma City Public Schools District Teacher of the Year in 2005 and most recently was named Oklahoma Teacher of the Year 2006. She will serve as the Oklahoma Ambassador for Teaching for the current school year and will travel the state speaking about music education and the teaching profession.

Robyn is a member of MENC and the Oklahoma Music Educators Association. She has served as the Collegiate Oklahoma Music Educators State President, while in college, and as the Oklahoma All-OMEA Orchestra Chair in 2005. She is also a member of ASTA with NSOA, currently serving as the Oklahoma ASTA with NSOA secretary, Sigma Alpha Iota, currently serving as the Norman Alumnae Chapter Vice-President of Ritual, and Phi Kappa Lambda.

She resides in Norman, Oklahoma with her husband David, who is the Director of Bands for Purcell Public Schools in Purcell, Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Centennial Band is produced in part by Fresh Ideas Entertainment.

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