LSU School of Music Welcomes Gregory Smith as Professional-in-Residence in Collaborative Piano

The LSU School of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Gregory Smith as Professional-in-Residence in Collaborative Piano at the LSU School of Music. A versatile and accomplished collaborator, Smith brings wide-ranging experience across instrumental and vocal repertoires, along with a deep commitment to the promotion of modern and contemporary works and the performance of new compositions.

Smith holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Music in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Andrew Harley and served as a teaching assistant in the undergraduate music theory department, also earning an Advanced Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy. He received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Brigham Young University, studying with Stephen Beus and Jeffrey Shumway. Originally from Pampa, Texas, Smith has built a distinguished career that spans performance, collaboration, and pedagogy at the highest levels.

An active presence on the national and international festival circuit, Smith has participated in such prestigious programs as SongFest, the Toronto Summer Music Academy's "Art of Song," the Cincinnati Song Initiative's "Fellowship of the Song," the Source Song Festival in Minneapolis, the Texas Chamber Music Institute in Fort Worth, and the Finger Lakes Opera in Rochester, NY. Notably, he served as a répétiteur for the Aspen Music Festival and School's 2024 and 2025 seasons, contributing to productions of Hänsel und Gretel and La bohème—a testament to the trust and versatility he brings to collaborative performance at the highest levels.

Smith is also a founding member of the Vantage Trio, a piano trio he formed alongside violinist Ciara McGuire and cellist Aaron Lieberman. Dedicated to both standard repertoire and works by composers from underrepresented communities, the trio competed in both the 2025 Plowman Chamber Music Competition—where they received a Judges' Special Recognition—and the 2025 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition.

The LSU School of Music is delighted to welcome Gregory Smith to its faculty and looks forward to the artistry, collaborative spirit, and commitment to contemporary music he will bring to students, colleagues, and audiences in Baton Rouge and beyond.