Jim Smith prepares for final bow
Jim Smith has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a performer, conductor and educator.
THE music education scene in North Lanarkshire is reaching the end of an era following the news that one of its long serving musical leaders is to retire.
Jim Smith is to step down as assistant music co-ordinator with North Lanarkshire Council on October 14 after spending a total of 37 years with the local authority and Strathclyde Regional Council.
His retirement brings the curtain down on a lengthy, successful career in music and education.
Paying tribute, Jim Park, head of music instruction, North Lanarkshire Council, said: “Jim Smith has worked as an instrumental music teacher within the state education system for 37 years. During that time Jim has given selflessly to developing the musical talents of countless young musicians, many of whom have since gone into the music profession as performers and teachers.
“In 2002, Jim took up his post as assistant music co-ordinator for North Lanarkshire Council and for the past 14 years has provided excellent managerial support to the council’s instrumental music service.
“Jim still has the same energy and enthusiasm for working with young people as he did on the day he started his teaching career and this is borne out by the fact that he still finds the time to conduct our North Lanarkshire Schools’ Preparatory Band - which last session had over 170 pupils between the ages of nine and 13.”
Mr Park added: “I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Jim for all the years of exemplary service that he has given to Strathclyde Regional Council and North Lanarkshire Council and wish him a long and happy retirement.”
Jim started playing cornet at the age of nine and enjoyed his first success at the age of 12 when he won the under 14s section at the Bellshill Solo Contest.
He joined the solo cornet team of the Scottish CWS Band at the age of 14.
Later, Jim became principal cornet with some of the country’s top bands including CWS and Kirkintilloch, where he was also resident conductor when the band won the Scottish Championship in 1984 and 1985.
As a competing soloist Jim won many awards including four Terris Gold Medals and first prize at the Alva Skol Championships on six occasions. He won the Scottish Solo Championship a record eight times, the first at the age of 16 and the latest 40 years later, in 2008. In recognition of this, Jim received the President’s Award from the Scottish Brass Band Association.
As a conductor, Jim has been involved with many bands but particularly enjoys training young players. His success with Monklands Youth Concert Brass Band is well known and he is proud of the work he has done over many years with North Lanarkshire’s Preparatory Wind Band which consists of more than 150 pupils from across North Lanarkshire.
Jim’s adjudicating experience has ranged from local festivals and competitions to European Youth Brass Band Championships and Scottish Junior and Senior Solo and Quartet Championships.
In recognition of his contribution to music education, he has twice been invited to attend the Queen’s Garden Party in Edinburgh.
