Great Bend Middle School student Slade Cauley recently participated in the Kansas Bandmasters Association Middle Level honor band in Wichita. Slade was nominated for the band by band director Don Regehr. The band was part of the summer convention for Kansas band directors. The conductor/clinician was Mickey Smith Jr.

The name Mickey Smith Jr. has because synonymous with the words “education” and “entertainment” across the country. His educational and encouraging blend of teacher and entertainer has earned him the moniker of “educa-trainer.” As a dynamic and driven sax man that is passionate about music and education, Mickey has been the band director at Maplewood Middle School since 2005. In addition to playing music and teaching, he also serves educators through his Sound180 EDUCATORS program and supports organizations that promote music education for children. 

He is currently the 2020 Grammy Music Educator Award national winner.

Regehr commended Cauley and all the other musicians for putting in that extra work this summer to be part of this honor band. He said that this year’s convention was extraordinary and well worth attending. In addition to Mr. Smith, they had a performance and clinic by “Sammy Miller and the Congregtion” and the 35th Infantry Band. Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, a well-respected motivational speaker, was a clinician as well as several top music educators from Kansas and surrounding states.