When not playing Tenor Horn in the 10th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Band, Jay Smith is both Band Comptroller and founder and board member of the Heartland Brass Foundation, the 10th Band's parent organization.

Jay holds a B.S. in Accounting from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Planning Certificant. He currently is a Principal at Cameron, Smith & Company, P.C., a certified public accounting firm and Cameron, Smith & Company Wealth Management Services, Inc., a financial services firm. Both businesses are housed in Springfield, IL.

Currently, Jay is a member of the Baritone section of the Heartland Brass Band, also in Springfield, Illinois. He has formerly played in the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment Band out of Bloomington, IL.

Trooper Smith performs on a civil war period Bb Tenor Horn featuring a bright brass finish and 3 top action string rotary valves.