Directors
Joshua Schechter
Head Band Director
joshua.schechter@birdvilleschools.net
Joshua Schechter is entering his 21st year of teaching. He came to Smithfield Middle School in 2005 and has served as the head band director since 2017. Under his leadership the bands of Smithfield Middle School have won multiple local band competitions, received consistent first division ratings at UIL, progressed to the Area level of TMEA Honor Band Contest, and been recognized as a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence competition in 2020, 2021 & 2022.
Mr. Schechter teaches the beginning Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, Saxophone, and Euphonium classes, the Honors Band, and assists during the Symphonic Band class.
When Mr. Schechter isn’t working in the band room he enjoys spending time with his wife and twin boys. They like spend time outdoors hiking, biking and camping. Mr. Schechter also spends some of his spare time as a professional audio recordist for DBP Audio.
Mr. Schechter’s professional affiliations are: TMEA, TBA, and TMAA.
Jim Atilano
Assistant Band Director
james.atilano@birdvilleschools.net
Jim Atilano is entering his 4th year of teaching at Smithfield Middle School. His responsibilities include teaching the beginning Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone and Tuba classes, the Symphonic Band and Concert Band, the Jazz Band, and assisting during the Honors Band class. Under his direction, the SMS Symphonic Band has received consistent first division ratings at UIL Concert & Sight Reading, and was named a Commended Winner in the 2023 & 2024 Citation of Excellence. He completed his student teaching with the Birdville High School Cluster in the spring of 2021, where he assisted with all of the beginner classes, concert ensembles and jazz bands.
Mr. Atilano graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Texas where he received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While at UNT, Mr. Atilano studied Trumpet with Professor Caleb Hudson. He has performed with the UNT Wind Symphony, Brass Band, 6 O'Clock Lab Band and UNT Trumpet Ensemble, which was a quarter-finalist at the 2019 and 2020 National Trumpet Competition. Mr. Atilano was also a member of the Green Brigade Marching Band and the Volleyball Band.
Mr. Atilano's professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and the International Trumpet Guild. Outside of teaching, Mr. Atilano enjoys watching sports, playing volleyball, running and traveling. He also plays trumpet professionally in the DFW area.
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Dr. Akira Robles
Percussion Director
akira.robles@birdvilleschools.net
Akira Robles is currently the Percussion Director at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills, TX. Dr. Robles earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance and Literature at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign under the tutelage of William Moersch and Ricardo Flores. After university, Dr. Robles kept an active career as a freelance performer and educator. He started in the Chicagoland area, while also clinicing around the country, including parts of Texas. The Texas tour culminated with a showcase performance at TMEA with the Tarleton State University percussion ensemble as a featured snare soloist.
Soon after, Dr. Robles moved to the DFW area, serving as Percussion Director of Ryan High School in Denton, TX until 2021. Dr. Robles has been involved in the marching percussion activity since 2003. He has performed with the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps (2003-2005) and the Phantom Regiment (2006-2007) as a bass drummer, as well as the 2008 WGI World Champion Rhythm X.
As an educator, he worked with the Phantom Regiment in 2010, and with the Santa Clara Vanguard from 2011 to 2022 both under the direction of Paul Rennick, and has been a part of seven Fred Sanford award winning percussion ensembles. Akira is an educational artist with Pearl/Adams, Innovative Percussion, Remo and Sabian.
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Cameron Bright
Assistant Percussion Director
cameron.bright@birdvilleschools.net
Cameron Bright is a percussionist and educator from Fort Worth, Texas, and currently serves as the Assistant Percussion Director for the Birdville High School cluster. Cameron holds a Bachelor's in Music Education from Texas Christian University, and a Master's in Music Percussion from the University of Alabama.
As an educator, Cameron has worked with numerous band programs in the DFW metroplex, from Allen ISD, Mansfield ISD, Keller ISD, Midlothian ISD and more. As a performer, Cameron has had the honor of performing with world-class groups in Drum Corps International, as well as professional orchestras, such as the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra.
Cameron has also had the honor of performing on the PASIC stage with both the TCU and UA Percussion Ensembles, as well as performing with the Grammy award-winning chamber ensemble Eighth Blackbird.