Dr. Jim Smith holds a PhD from Florida State University and has served The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers as Chair of Area IX and as Music Chairman. He has conducted festivals and workshops in all 12 Areas of the Guild and was a conductor at the National Festival Conferences in 1990 and 1999.

He is active as a composer-arranger with 14 bell arrangements in print. He retired as Director of Music at the First Presbyterian Church in Longview, TX in 1994 after serving 17 years and is currently Director of the Prime Chimers at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, as well as Director of our Bel Canto Handbell Choir.

His other music experiences include teaching at the public school and college levels and writing music criticism for the Longview News Journal.