Former HMB Teaching Assistant Takes the Helm at Boise State

Eric Smedley

This past summer former Husky Band Graduate teaching assistant, Eric Smedley, was named director of athletic bands and assistant professor of music at Boise State University.

Eric, who was a TA for the Husky Band the past three years, was selected from a national search and succeeds iconic BSU Director David Wells, who led the marching band for the last 22 seasons.

From humble beginnings as simply a school "pepband" in 1940, the BSU Marching Band has grown to a current size of 178 and has become uniquely known simply as the "Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band."  The band bears the name of prominent band donor Keith Stein. The BSU Marching Band was cut in the early 1980s due to budget problems. Keith Stein asked why there was no marching band at football games and, when told of the budget restraints, donated a large sum to help fund the resurgence of the BSU Marching Band in 1986.

Eric, who in June 2010 successfully earned his doctor of musical arts (DMA) at the UW, will also be conducting the BSU Basketball Band and All-Campus Concert Band.

On behalf of the entire Husky Band family, we congratulate Dr. Eric Smedley as he begins his career at Boise State University.

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Eric Smedley at pregame performance

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Brad McDavid, center, & Eric Smedley, at right