Wyatt C. Smith Findlay Trojan Marching Band Fund

Type: Designated

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Established 2025

Wyatt Smith showed signs of being musically inclined when he was very young. At two years old, he was playing songs by ear on his toy piano. He started piano lessons when he was five and soon discovered he had perfect pitch. It became a fun thing to show off. His piano teacher did a demonstration at most recitals. Soon, he was naming complex chords by ear, not just individual notes.

Wyatt played the euphonium (baritone) in middle school and learned to march. After attending an Ohio State University football game, he fell in love with all things marching band and vowed to play sousaphone as a member of TBDBITL someday. He learned everything about the band on YouTube and started training himself at that level.

Wyatt took up the sousaphone in high school and marched proudly with the Findlay Trojan Marching Band. The day he got his first band uniform, he rushed home to try it on. He loved marching at FHS football games and playing in the pep band at basketball games. He played at every basketball game he could attend despite only being required to do a few. Wyatt achieved his dream in August 2023 when he became one of the 28 out of more than 40 sousaphone candidates to make it into the Ohio State Marching band - a considerable feat in itself, but even more difficult as a freshman. As a part of the band, Wyatt has been able to attend the Rose Bowl, two trips to the Cotton Bowl, and the National Championship game in Atlanta in 2025. In the spring of 2026, he will go with the band to Ireland to march in the famous St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Wyatt always felt the marching band should get as much attention as some of the other music groups in the school. He often talked about his ideas for FTMB — uniforms, shows, competitions, guest instructors, etc. With this fund, we hope Wyatt's alma mater can become the program he would love to see it become.

This fund, established in Wyatt's honor by his parents Ryan and Marie, will support the Findlay City School Findlay Trojan Marching Band.