Mike Smith
Saxophone Section Leader
(Member since November 2006)
On sabbatical for the month of November (2008) due to surgery

Mike Smith is a graduate of Port Arthur's Thomas Jefferson High School and received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Lamar University, and earned his Master's degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Mike was a "sweepstakes" band director for many years, consistently winning top honors with bands at Nederland's C. O. Wilson Middle School, Liberty High School, Little Cypress-Mauriceville, Longview, and Lumberton High School. He has professional sales experience with Henco Fundraising and H&H Music in Houston. Mike has been an administrator in the Lumberton ISD for a decade now, and continues to lead that school to greatness.

Mike's professional experience includes the Jimmy Simmons Orchestra, the Dyess-Rogers Band, and he has backed such artists as the Four Tops, the Temptations, Al Hirt, Marvin Stamm, Bill Watrous, Joe Williams, Doc Severinson, and a host of others.

Monica Schmidt
Alto Saxophone, clarinet, & flute
(Member since February 2008)

Monica graduated from Nederland High School and is currently a pre-Med major at Lamar University. Her love of music was so strong that she entered college as a music major, but soon decided that the medical field was where she belonged -- following in her father's footsteps.

Monica was first call alto sax sub for several years before finally becoming a full-fledged member of NDO. She has served in leadership rolls in the Lamar Pep Band, Wind Ensemble, and was the lead alto of the award-winning Lamar Jazz Ensemble for 3 years.

Says Monica: "My passion for making music evolved from a hobby and extra-curricular activity into something I can't live without. I play first and foremost because to play music soothes my soul and puts a smile on my face. And I play to hopefully communicate a little bit of that to other people. No matter what happens to me or where I end up, music will always be an integral part of my life."

Dina Bordelon
Alto Saxophone
(November 2008)

Dina is another grauduate of Nederland High School and is currently a music major at Lamar University. Dina's loves, besides music, are her family and friends. While music keeps Dina fairly busy, she also loves her role as bride to her prince charming, Kyle. Dina and Kyle reside in Groves, Texas.

Dina performs in the Lamar University Wind Ensemble, the LU Jazz Ensemble, and the LU saxophone quartet. She is a student of Dr. Kim Ellis.

Bob Thomas
Lead Tenor, clarinet, & flute
(Member since December 2005)

Bob was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1934. Interestingly, he played trumpet in high school from 1948 to 1952. When duty called during the Korean War, he somehow managed to play saxophone from 1953 to 1956 in the 298th Army Band while stationed in Berlin. Thanks to the G.I. Bill, Bob entered the prestigious jazz school in Denton and played lead (and solo) alto sax in the
North Texas One O'Clock Jazz Band from 1956 to 1960, earning a Bachelor of Music degree.

Following graduation, Bob taught band in Wylie, Texas, Anchorage, Alaska, and Killeen, Texas. He has also served as Director of the Music Department at Central Texas College in Killeen. Bob earned his Master of Arts at the University of South Florida where he also served as a teaching fellow on clarinet and saxophone. His professional musical career has included playing with the Anchorage Symphony and in the Tampa Philharmonic (saxophone and bass clarinet, respectively). He has recorded extensively in Dallas studios and was heard on hundreds of advertising jingles. He was a member of many territory bands out of Dallas as well as having played with the likes of Marvin Stamm, Dee Barton, Ted Weems, and Stan Kenton. Other professional playing experience includes sharing the stage with Eddy Arnold, Connie Francis, and Judy Garland.

Bob moved to Beaumont in 1981 and served as Director of Aviation at the Southeast Texas Regional Airport. He is also a licenced commercial airline pilot! Bob joined up with some of his North Texas schoolmates recently when he performed with Les Brown and His Band of Renown led by Les Brown Jr., in Branson, Missouri for their fall 2005 season.

Kara Phillips
Tenor Saxophone
(Member since summer 2007)

Kara Phillips is a 2004 graduate of Vidor High School where she excelled in music. Following graduation, Kara enrolled at Texas A&M University in College Station. In 2005, Kara transferred to Lamar University where she is a music major (saxophone performance) with a minor in history.

KP is a member of the Lamar University Pep Band, the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, saxophone quartet, and performs whenever called upon throughout the Golden Triangle area.

Due to her studies and other school related activities, KP took a leave of absence from NDO for a brief period of time. "We are proud to have her talents back on the band," says leader Wayne Dyess.

Ken Snow
Baritone Saxophone
(Member since July 2008)

Ken Snow graduated from Vidor High School and attended Lamar University before transferring to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX to complete his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education. While at Hardin-Simmons Ken played in the Abilene Christian University Jazz Ensemble, Collegiate Orchestra on bassoon/bass clarinet, and the HSU World Renown Cowboy Band.  During his senior year he won the concerto competition held in Abilene performing the Glazounov Concerto.  After graduating in December 2000, Ken went to the University of Kentucky to study with Jazz professor Miles Osland.  During his two year stay the U of K the Jazz Ensemble and Mega-Sax group won both the outstanding Jazz Ensemble and Small Combo awards at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival in 2003.  Ken received his Master of Music degree in performance in May of 2003. 

Ken has performed or been a member of these groups: Osland Saxophone Quartet, People's Choice, The Metrognomes, DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra (DOJO), Lexington Philharmonic and Abilene Phiharmonic, Symphony of Southeast Texas,  Jimmy Simmons Orchestra, and the former Wayne Dyess Kicks Band.  Performances with solo artists include; Jeff Coffin, Greg Abate, Dave Liebman, Kenny Werner, Allen Vizzutti, Ron Wilkinson, and Vince DiMartino.

Ken was previously a music educator in the Golden Triangle and still teaches private saxophone and clarinet lessons for area schools.   Currently, Ken is the Youth Pastor at Maplecrest Baptist Church in Vidor, Texas and married to his beautiful wife Catie.
COPYRIGHT ©2006 by Night & Day Orchestra, Beaumont, TX


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