Cory Schmitt previously served as the Director of Bands at Forest City High School and Middle School, as well as the Director of Wind Symphony at Waldorf University. At Forest City schools, Cory taught grades 6-12, conducted 4 different bands, and had over 200 students in his program. Under Cory’s direction, the FCHS Marching Band grew from 58 to 120 members. His ensembles earned Division I superior ratings at every state-level event they attended, as well as 1st place finishes at the Adventureland Festival of Band and 4-time consecutive champions at the Algona Band Days Marching Contest. In 2017, Cory joined the music staff at Waldorf University, where he assumed the role of Director of Wind Symphony as well as Adjunct Professor of Music, where he taught trumpet lessons and Wind Conducting courses. 

 

Cory earned his Master's Degree in Wind Conducting and Trumpet Performance from the University of Northern Iowa in 2014, where he served as Graduate Assistant for Athletic Bands and played lead trumpet in the award-winning UNI Jazz Band One, who toured Thailand in 2013. Cory earned a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Instrumental Music Education from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia in 2012. At JMU, Cory played principal and lead trumpet in every ensemble on campus and was one of the drum majors for the 450-member Marching Royal Dukes. His conducting teachers have included Dr. Stephen Bolstad, Mr. Scott Rikkers, Dr. Danny Galyen, Dr. Ronald Johnson, and Dr. Mark Heidel.

 

As an active trumpet performer, Cory is the lead trumpeter of the Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra and is on the horn-line in the rock/soul group 10 of Soul. As a freelance musician, Cory has been contracted to perform with world renowned classical, jazz, and rock musicians such as The Jim McDonough Orchestra, John Hollenbeck, John Clayton, Donny McCaslin, Craig Morris, David Childs, Les Neish, Jim Self, as well as the rock band Kansas, the Motown group The Temptations, The Beach Boys, and Lake Street Dive. He recently subbed in for rehearsals with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis His trumpet teachers include Paul Neebe, Jim Kluesner, Christine Ennis Carrillo, Chris Carrillo, Randy Grabowski, Michael Gause, and Curtis Taylor.

 

Cory is extremely excited spend his third and final year on the University of Iowa Bands staff with an anticipated graduation of May 2025. He enjoys being a Teaching Assistant for the Hawkeye Marching Band, Iowa Pep Band, and University of Iowa wind bands. Cory is currently the Director of the Iowa City New Horizons Band. He also serves as an active guest conductor, guest artist, clinician, and adjudicator around the state of Iowa.

 

Cory is happily married to his wife Teresa and the proud father of Edward, Charlotte, and William.