About Dr. Smith

Nicholas Smith came to Wichita, Kansas in 1975 assuming the dual positions of Professor of Horn at Wichita State University and Principal Horn of the Wichita Symphony. He has been a member of WSU's Wichita Brass Quintet and Lieurance Woodwind Quintet producing that ensemble's two CD's for the Summit Recording Label. He has held the Principal Horn positions in the Oklahoma City Symphony, the Madison (WI) Symphony and the forty piece American Sinfonietta chamber orchestra. He has also performed with the Kansas City Symphony and as Assistant Principal Horn of the Rochester Philharmonic. Dr. Smith has worked with summer festivals such as the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, the Brevard Music Center, the Bay View (MI) Music Festival and, most recently with the Bellingham, (WA) Music Festival. He has been a frequent soloist and lecturer at regional and international conferences of the International Horn Society and hosted two Mid-West conferences for the society in 1991 and 1996. He has published several articles in various professional journals, and a book entitled "Don't Miss" to improve accuracy on the horn is in final preparation. Dr. Smith's students occupy positions in many orchestras and military service bands throughout the United States, Europe and the Orient. In recoginition of his teaching and accomplishments, Wichita State University named Dr. Smith to its Academy of Effective Teaching in May of 2004. Additional academic appointments include teaching at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has served Wichita State University in several administrative positions: as Graduate Coordinator, Associate Chair and Acting Chair for the School of Music and, for five years, as Associate Dean of The College of Fine Arts. A native Kansan, he earned degrees at Pittsburg State University (BM) and the Eastman School of Music (MM, DMA, and Performers Certificate). Principal teachers include Verne Reynolds, Philip Farkas, and Roland Berger.

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