W. Stephen Smith

William Stephen “Steve” Smith (born December 18, 1950) is an American voice teacher, author and baritone singer. He is a professor of Voice and Opera at the Bienen School of Music of Northwestern University, voice faculty for the Ryan Opera Center of Lyric Opera of Chicago, voice faculty emeritus of the Aspen Music Festival and School and founder/director of the Naked Voice Institute.

Early life Smith was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas on December 18, 1950, the son of Buel Smith and Jolene (née Hooton). He was raised in Pocahontas, Arkansas and Corning, Arkansas.

As Smith's father did not approve of his musical interests as a child, his first job was mowing a neighbor's lawn every week in order to be able to afford to pay for piano lessons on his own. Smith's voice teacher at Harding was Erle T. Moore. He continued at the University of Arkansas, studying voice with Richard Brothers and graduating with an M.M. in voice in 1975.

He was then hired as a one-year sabbatical replacement choir director at Oklahoma Christian University, and remained on the faculty when a professorship was created for him the following year. His teaching responsibilities included voice lessons, music theory, musicianship and stage directing of student operas and musicals. a position he held until that institution closed in 1990.

Career

Smith was appointed to the faculty of Moores School of Music of the University of Houston in 1990. In 1991, he began instructing apprentice artists of the Houston Grand Opera Studio. In 1996, he joined the faculty of the Aspen Music Festival and School. In 1998, he was appointed to the faculty of The Juilliard School. He resigned from the University of Houston but retained his position with Houston Grand Opera, commuting weekly between New York and Houston until he resigned from Houston Grand Opera in 2003. Subsequent to his appointment, he founded the Naked Voice Institute, a summer program of Northwestern University that instructs students in his method of pedagogy.

Prominent students Smith has instructed include Christine Brewer, Rod Gilfry, and Eric Owens.

Smith's pedagogy differs from this tradition in that he has developed a series of six vocalises, which he trains in sequence, Honorary Doctor of Arts and Humane Letters degree (D.A.H.) – University of Arkansas – 2012 New Horizons Faculty – Aspen Music Festival and School – 2001, 2009 & 2013

Personal life Smith is married to the former Carol Christine Mannen, Emily Smith Jobe Abby C. Smith.