Tracy Smith grew up in the Farmington, Illinois area, studying piano from the age of 8 years old and taking lessons for 10 years. She began her instrumental music experience in 5th grade by playing cornet and eventually moved to trumpet in high school. While in junior high and high school, Tracy participated in several performing groups including solo/ensemble contests, organizational music contests, marching band, concert band, jazz band and was an all-district concert band participant. While in high school, Tracy also began to gain experience accompanying choirs, along with solos and ensembles for music contests.
Tracy attended Western Illinois University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education. While attending Western, she participated in several music ensembles including marching band, concert band, jazz band, wind ensemble and madrigal brass, studying under the direction of Mr. Dale Hopper, Mr. Dennis Johnson, Dr. Jon Dugle and Dr. William DeJong and studied piano under Mrs. Hyung Ja Kim. She also served as a camp counselor for Summer Music Camp for 3 years and was an active member of the Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity.
After college, Tracy did substitute teaching, married husband Wes, moved to Virginia, moved back within 2 years and began teaching beginning band and general classes at 2 Chicagoland area Catholic grade schools.
After taking a few years off to have a family, Tracy decided it was time to do something musical in her life again by teaching piano lessons. She did this while her sons were young and she could still spend time with them at home. Once both her sons were in school, the time had come to begin looking for a music teaching job outside the home.
Since then, Tracy has gained over 26 years of experience in public school teaching for beginning band and general music classes grade K-5, approximately 30 years of experience as an accompanist for several middle school and high school concerts, middle school solo/ensemble and organizational music contests. She has also served as an accompanist and pit member for several musical stage productions in the area and assisted with the middle school and high school marching bands. While teaching, she was also actively involved in the Wilmington Music Boosters organization for several years.
Mrs. Smith is also an active member of the Wilmington community as well. In the past, she has been an active member of the Wilmington Community Theater as an accompanist and pit member for several of the musical stage productions, continues to direct the Wilmington Area Community Band in the summer, member of the Island City Brass Quintet, served as a parent volunteer leader for the Wesley Hustlers local 4H club for 10 years, and has assisted with the Christian Help Association food sorting/packing during the holidays and been an active volunteer with Share Fest events.
Mrs. Smith’s church involvement has included approximately 20 years of experience as piano accompanist for weekly and holiday worship services, accompanist for the children’s choir, past director of the children’s choir and chime choir, over 30 years of experience as a member of the Praise Ringers hand bell choir (member and now current director), member of the adult chancel choir, substitute director for the adult chancel choir, 18 years of experience as music director for Community Vacation Bible School, and has served on various church committees throughout the years including worship and education.
Tracy is a member of the Illinois Music Educator Association (ILMEA) and PEO, a women’s educational organization.
The arts stay in the family: husband, Wes who plays tuba in a variety of area ensembles, son Travis – art teacher at Peotone Junior High, daughter in law Amber who enjoys arts and crafts and baking and youngest son Drew – a music teacher at Dwight Grade School. In her retirement spare time, Mrs. Smith enjoys making jam, baking, sewing, reading, biking and playing with her delightful grandson, Charlie.