About
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Biography
William Smith is an American pianist, composer, and teacher active in the Boston area. He began his musical studies at the age of six in his hometown of Augusta, GA and quickly fell in love with playing the instrument. In 2019, William began his undergraduate career at Florida State University studying with Dr. David Kalhous. Highlights of this time include a third place finish in the Gulf Coast Steinway Society Piano Competition and attendance at the Gijón International Piano Festival, where he worked with teachers such as Amy Gustasfon, Douglas Humphries, José Ramón Méndez, Jean Saulnier, and Logan Skelton.
An advocate of contemporary music, William regularly performs music written from the 20th century to the modern day, including music by Adams, Boulez, Glass, and Ligeti, and regularly collaborates in the production of new works. William is also in high demand as an accompanist. His vast experience covers a plethora of genres including opera scenes/arias, historical and contemporary art song, musical theatre, chamber music, instrumental concerti, and other various instrumental sonatas/works. William currently serves as a Staff Accompanist at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA and as the Music Director at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Middleboro in Middleboro, MA.
As a composer, William combines his love for minimalism, mathematics, and sacred music. Most recently and notably, he has seen debut performances of his choral setting of the 23rd Psalm, his Piano Sonata in F major, and his micro-opera The Fall, which was written in collaboration with librettist and soprano Anna Jean Simmons.
William is also a passionate teacher and maintains an active studio in the Boston area. William's teaching experience covers a vast range of musical (and non-musical) subjects and is currently accepting new students.
William holds degrees from Florida State University (BM Piano Performance, BS Pure Mathematics), where he studied piano with Dr. David Kalhous, and the Longy School of Music (MM Piano Performance), where he studied piano with Mr. Wayman Chin. Other teachers have included Dr. Clara Park (Piano), Dr. Deloise Lima (Chamber Music, Collaborative Piano), Dr. Diana Dumavwala (Piano Pedagogy), and Mr. Donald Berman (Chamber Music).
Outside of music, William enjoys running and hearing the latest tea from his family and friends - sometimes even at the same time.
Artist Statement
Music is the connection between the physical and spiritual realms, and it is this belief that ignites my passion for playing, teaching, and composing music. As a performer, it is my goal to connect to as wide of an audience as possible by playing a variety of repertoire from the Baroque to Contemporary periods. As a teacher, I strive to help others find their musical voice through the piano and build their technique so that they find a sense of confidence at the instrument. As a composer, I combine my other passion for mathematics with music in an attempt to authentically express both my inner self and understanding of the world to others.