Penelope Smetters-Jacono is the Director of Bands at the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. Mrs. Smetters-Jacono earned her Bachelor’s Degree from New York University and her Master’s Degree from Ithaca College. She began her career as the Band Director at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, where she ran the band program, including the first marching band in over 30 years. She then went on to join the planning team for the first-ever high school of music in the Bronx.

That school, named the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music, opened in 2003 with Mrs. Smetters-Jacono as a founding staff member. She currently conducts the school’s Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Bands, Saxophone Quartet, and All-Girl’s Jazz Band. The jazz program participates annually in the National Jazz Festival and Essentially Ellington Regional Festivals. Under her baton, Mrs. Smetters-Jacono’s concert bands and jazz ensembles have received several awards, including NYSSMA Level 6 Gold and Gold with Distinction, for the past eleven years running. They have also received Grand Sweepstakes Awards and Superior ratings at the National Music Showcase Festivals. Most recently, the Celia Cruz Big Band won first place at the Inaugural National Jazz Festival and earned a spot as a finalist for the 2020 Essentially Ellington Festival and Competition.

Mrs. Smetters-Jacono enjoys traveling with the Wind Ensemble to perform at Walt Disney World every two years. Her ensembles have completed performance tours in Ireland, Vienna, Prague, Florida, and New Orleans. 

Mrs. Smetters-Jacono has had the honor of conducting the NYC Middle School Honors Festival Concert Band, the Putnam Valley All-County Middle School Band, and the Westchester All-County Middle School Band. In her spare time, Ms. Jacono is an active musician, playing saxophone with the Westchester Community Band and clarinet with the Yonkers Military Band alongside current Celia Cruz students and alumni.