David Smith has been on the faculty at Western Connecticut State University since 1970. He taught instrumental music in Elmira, NY from 1967-69 and was a graduate assistant at East Carolina University in the 1969-70 school year. He holds degrees from Mansfield State College(B.S. Music Education) and East Carolina University(M.M. Percussion Performance). Post graduate work was done at New York University and the Hartt School of Music. In 1992 he was placed on the music departmentÿs alumni honor roll at Mansfield University. In 1995 he was selected as the Higher Education Music Educator of the year in Connecticut.

Mr. Smith has studied percussion with John Beck(Eastman School of Music), Brad Spinney(New York University), Harold Jones(East Carolina University) and Fred Hinger (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra). He holds the position of Principal Percussionist with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. In addition to the NHSO, Mr. Smith has performed with several other orchestras including: Ives Symphony Orchestra as Timpanist and Principal Percussion, the Bridgeport Symphony as Timpanist and the Ridgefield Orchestra as Timpanist. Mr. Smith has given many solo percussion recitals. These performances have included performances in recital series at Western Connecticut State University, Hartt School of Music, Manchester(CT) Church Community Concert Series, Hillsdale(NY) Art Gallery, and Five Mile River Concert Series ( Norwalk , CT). In 1989 he performed World Premieres of two compositions by Milton Babbitt; Beaten Paths for Solo Marimba and Homily for solo snare drum at the International Percussive Arts Society Conference in Nashville, TN.

He has recorded on CRI and Desto Records with the New England Contemporary Ensemble and recorded David Amramÿs “Native American Portraits” for National Public Radio. He has performed with the Paul Whiteman Band throughout the United States and Italy.

Contact: smithd@wcsu.educreate new email