Derek Smilowski
Derek Smilowski is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania in 2014 (B.M. Music Education & Flute Performance) & Texas Christian University in 2025 (M.M. Flute Performance). During his time at Mansfield University, he studied under the direction of Dr. Christine Moulton and was coached in a chamber music setting by Dr. Susan Laib. Upon Graduating, Mr. Smilowski spent a year teaching general music (K-8) at the Bethune School in the School District of Philadelphia, and then for the next seven years, Mr. Smilowski had worked as a Head Director of Bands in the Fort Worth Independent School District where he served approximately 600 band students across three campuses (6-12).
As a performing musician, Mr. Smilowski is the piccolo player for the Mansfield Wind Symphony, the principal flutist of the Mansfield Philharmonic, and the Second Flute/Piccolo for the New Texas Sinfonia. He has performed in various parts of the country as recently as July 2019 at the Texas Band Master’s Association, December 2021 at the Midwest Band Clinic, and again at the 2025 Texas Band Masters Association with the Mansfield Wind Symphony. Mr. Smilowski has performed as a concerto soloist in the Bach Brandenburg Concerto in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania alongside his former teacher, and has appeared as the soloist in both the Mozart G Major Flute Concerto and the Bach Orchestral Suite in B Minor with the Mansfield Philharmonic. Mr. Smilowski was also the winner of the 2024 National Flute Association Masterclass Competition.
As an educator, he has served on the curriculum design team for the high school band programs of FWISD as well as a resource for new teachers working in urban schools and districts for the first time and has mentored multiple student teachers from rigorous music education programs from across the state in his classroom. In the spring of 2020, Mr. Smilowski was named the Campus & Secondary District Teacher of the Year for both Eastern Hills High School and Fort Worth ISD. Currently, he is pursuing his DMA in flute performance at Texas Christian University under the teachings of Dr. Shauna Thompson while cultivating excellence in a thriving private studio of 45+ flute students grades 6 - 12 in both Keller and Fort Worth ISD.