M.M., Cleveland Institute of Music

B.M., University of Michigan

Mr. Cameron Smith, pianist, has captivated audiences internationally with his unique combination of artistry and exceptional technique. Born into a family of accomplished musicians, Cameron Smith began his formal piano studies in Farmington Hills, Michigan at the age of five under the instruction of Cecilia Friedenzohn.

Mr. Smith's extraordinary talent and hard work paid off as he made his debut appearance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the age of nineteen. He has since been invited a number of times to perform with them, most recently during the spring of 2008 with Peter Oundjian conducting.  Other orchestral engagements include performances with the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, and  the Orquestra Sinfonica de Porto Alegre in Brazil, where he was the featured soloist.  In addition, Mr. Smith has performed as an orchestra member under the baton of such distinguished conductors as Neeme Jarvi, Gunther Herbig, Hans Graf, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos and Thomas Wilkins. In the summer of 2002, Mr. Smith was invited to participate in the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival where he collaborated with world renowned violinist Arnold Steinhardt. A year later, in 2003, he was awarded a scholarship to perform at the Banff Summer Piano Festival in Canada. Other recent performances include a solo recital at the prestigious Phillips Collection in Washington D.C., and recitals in New York City, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Ann Arbor, and Detroit.

Mr. Smith has also performed internationally in France, Germany, England, Brazil, and  Bulgaria, in addition to numerous solo and chamber music appearances throughout North America,  During the years of his studies, he has participated in solo and chamber music master classes with such eminent musicians as Emanuel Ax, John Perry, Pinchas Zukerman, and Gary Hoffman. 

Mr. Smith’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan while studying with Dickran Atamian and Logan Skelton, a master’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Anita Pontremoli, and a doctorate from Rice University while in the studio of concert pianist Jon Kimura Parker.

More information about Mr. Smith can be found at www.cameron-smith.com.