BIOGRAPHY
Cellist Patrick Smith is a dynamic musician at home in both Western classical and intercultural music.
Smith holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from the DePaul University School of Music in Chicago, Illinois. While attaining his Master of Arts from the University of Alberta, he expanded his repertoire to include African art music and Middle Eastern music.
A native of Idaho, Smith began playing cello at the age of 10. His musical education began in a successful public school music program and continued during private study with Samuel Smith. Smith went on to study with Stephen Balderston at DePaul University. He served as Principal Cellist of the DePaul Symphony Orchestra from 2008 to 2009 and performed with this and other orchestras during his time in Chicago.
CHAMBER MUSIC
Smith has been an active chamber musician and soloist from his early days as a cellist. During his time in Chicago, Smith performed chamber music with members of the DePaul University School of Music string faculty and with cellists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra during the 2009 Rush Hour Concert Series. While in Edmonton, he performed with the Enterprise Quartet in a concert featuring Grammy nominated Iraqi American oud player Rahim Alhaj. Most recently, Smith took part in a cello duo concert in Vancouver, BC's Roedde House Second Sunday Series.
ETHNOMUSICOLOGY
Smith’s musical interests broadened while studying ethnomusicology (Master of Arts in Music) at the University of Alberta. From 2009 through 2011, he performed with the Middle Eastern and North African Ensemble, studying styles of music that ranged from classical Arab music to North African pop. He also frequently collaborated with Persian and Pakistani musicians in the Edmonton community. Smith had the pleasure of coordinating two performances of African art music with University of Alberta musicians, music written by Ghanaian composers that he met during his 2010 Master’s fieldwork. His Master’s Thesis “Contemporary African Art Music Composers in Ghana: Locating Identities” discusses these composers and their music. Smith continues to be passionate about the music of intercultural composers from around the world.
TEACHING AND OUTREACH
As a musician and teacher, Smith is continually excited about the role of music in community. Aside from being a private cello instructor, he has taken part in several music outreach programs including the “mUse of A” program through the University of Alberta. Smith also organized several solo and cello quartet performances featuring classical and Metallica arrangements through an arts therapy program at the Cook County Jail in Chicago.
Smith lives in Vancouver, British Columbia with his wife and son. He is an avid hiker and sea kayaker and, when not playing or teaching the cello, is frequently found poring over maps planning his next hiking or kayaking trip. He plays an instrument made by Gary Garavaglia.