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W. Stephen Smith

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Professor
W. Stephen Smith
Born
William Stephen Smith

(1950-12-18) December 18, 1950 (age 74)
Jonesboro, Arkansas
NationalityAmerican
Alma materHarding University (B.A.)
University of Arkansas (M.M.)
Oklahoma City University (M.P.A.)
Occupation(s)Professor of Voice and Opera at Bienen School of Music of Northwestern University
SpouseCarol Mannen Smith
ChildrenEmily Smith Jobe, Abby C. Smith
Parent(s)Buel and Jolene Smith
Websitewstephensmith.com

William Stephen “Steve” Smith (born December 18, 1950) is an American voice teacher, author and baritone singer. He is a Professor of Voice and Opera at the Bienen School of Music of Northwestern University[1], voice faculty for the Ryan Opera Center of Lyric Opera of Chicago[2] and Aspen Music Festival and School[3] and founder/director of the Naked Voice Institute[4].

Early life

Smith was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas on December 18, 1950, the son of Buel Smith and Jolene (née Hooton)[5]. He was raised in Pocahontas, Arkansas and Corning, Arkansas[5]. His father owned a nearby Ford dealership[6].

As Smith’s father did not approve of his musical interests as a child, his first job was mowing a neighbor’s lawn every week in order to be able to afford to pay for piano lessons on his own[5].

Education and early career

Smith was valedictorian of the Corning High School class of 1968[5]. After graduating from high school, he attended Harding University, where he majored in music (in further defiance of his father’s wishes)[5], graduating with a B.A. in 1972[7]. Smith’s voice teacher at Harding was Erle T. Moore[8]. He continued his studies at the University of Arkansas, studying voice with Richard Brothers and graduating with an M.M. in voice in 1975[9]. Upon completion of his master’s degree, Smith was hired as a one-year sabbatical replacement choir director at Oklahoma Christian University, and remained on the faculty when a professorship was created for him the following year[10]: 7 . His teaching responsibilities included voice lessons, music theory, musicianship, vocal pedagogy and stage directing of student operas and musicals[10]: 7 . During his first year at OC, Smith became interested in the pedagogy of Inez Lunsford Silberg, who taught voice at the nearby Oklahoma City University. In order to study with Silberg, Smith enrolled in OKCU’s M.P.A. program in opera performance, taking classes while continuing to serve on the faculty of OC, and graduating in 1981[5]. Following the completion of his second master’s degree, Smith remained on the faculty of OC until 1987, when he was hired as the chair of the voice department of St. Louis Conservatory[11], a position he held until that institution closed in 1990[12].

Career

Smith moved to Houston, Texas in August of 1990 upon being appointed to the faculty of Moores School of Music of the University of Houston. In 1992, he was hired as Voice Instructor of the Houston Grand Opera Studio. In 1996, he joined the faculty of the Aspen Music Festival and School. In 1998, Smith was appointed to the faculty of The Juilliard School. Smith resigned from the University of Houston but retained his position with Houston Grand Opera, commuting weekly between New York and Houston in order to accommodate his students. He resigned from Houston Grand Opera in 2003[5].

In 2011, Smith was recruited to the faculty of Northwestern University[13][14]. Subsequent to his appointment, he founded the Naked Voice Institute, a summer program of Northwestern University that instructs students in Smith’s pedagogy[15].

Prominent students Smith has instructed include Christine Brewer[10]: 39 , Joyce DiDonato[16], Rod Gilfry[8], Brian Mulligan[17] and Eric Owens[16].

Pedagogy

Awards

Personal life

Smith is married to the former Carol Christine Mannen[5] and has two daughters, pastry chef[21] Emily Smith Jobe[5] and singer/actress[22] Abby C. Smith[5].

References

  1. ^ "Faculty Profile: W. Stephen Smith". Northwestern Bienen School of Music. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  2. ^ "Ryan Opera Center: Faculty". Lyric Opera of Chicago. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  3. ^ "Artist-Faculty: W. Stephen Smith". Aspen Music Festival and School. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  4. ^ "Summer Session: Institutes, Master Classes and Symposia: Voice Institute". Northwestern Bienen School of Music. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Martin, Fred (2005-06-30). "This Is Our Mr. Smith". Clay County Courier. Corning, Arkansas.
  6. ^ "Obituary: Buel Smith". The Daily Citizen. Searcy, Arkansas. 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2016-05-05. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b Marcussen, Jennifer L. (Spring 2006). "Finding One's True Voice: Juilliard's W. Stephen Smith Accompanies His Students on a Journey of Self-Discovery". Harding. Vol. 14, no. 2. Searcy, Arkansas: Harding University.
  8. ^ a b c "W. Stephen Smith: Biography". W. Stephen Smith. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  9. ^ "Smith to Receive Honorary Degree for Revolutionary Voice Teaching". Clay County Courier. Corning, Arkansas. 2012-11-29.
  10. ^ a b c Smith, W. Stephen; Chipman, Michael (2007). The Naked Voice: A Wholistic Approach to Singing. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195300505.
  11. ^ "Professor Takes Post". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 1987-06-12. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  12. ^ "About the Community Music School". Webster University. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  13. ^ Friedlander, Claudia. "Congratulations, Steve!". The Liberated Voice. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  14. ^ "W. Stephen Smith Joins Faculty of Bienen School of Music". Northwestern Bienen School of Music. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  15. ^ Roberts, Gene B. "Gene B. Roberts". Gene B. Roberts. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  16. ^ a b "Studio Artists & Faculty". Houston Grand Opera. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  17. ^ Burnett, William. "Rising Stars: An Interview with Brian Mulligan". Opera Warhorses. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  18. ^ "Distinguished Alumni Academy 1999". Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2016-05-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "Harding, Smith to Receive Honorary Degrees at University of Arkansas Fall Commencement". University of Arkansas News. 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  20. ^ "Faculty" (pdf). Fanfare. No. 51. Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University. p. 16. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  21. ^ "Sweet Treats by Emily". Facebook. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  22. ^ "Abby C. Smith". Abby C. Smith. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
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