Derrick Smith (voice) Baritone Derrick Smith has emerged as a rising vocal sensation, singing with distinction in theaters around the world. Mr. Smith sang the role of Joe in Showboat at its 50th Anniversary performance at the California Musical Theater in Sacramento. He was asked to repeat the same role at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre's summer performances in Chicago, receiving jubilant praise from critics and standing ovations from the audience. He has triumphed equally performing the dual roles of Porgy and Jake in Porgy and Bess with the Chicago Sinfonietta at Chicago's Symphony Hall, Crown in Porgy and Bess with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and Leporello in Don Giovanni with the Malmo Symfoni Orkester in Sweden. Mr. Smith more recently appeared with Opera Ebony in the debut performance of original opera Harriet Tubman at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, performing the principal role of John Tubman. He was called on to repeat the same role of John Tubman both at the Arturo Schomberg Center in New York City and at the Metro Theater in Syracuse, N.Y.

A frequent oratorio and concert soloist, Derrick Smith has performed in recital with renowned soprano Renee Fleming, a Rochester, N.Y. native, as well as performing as a soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rochester Oratorio Society, the Long Island Symphony, and the Chamber Group of the Toronto Symphony among others. Mr. Smith has sung many classical and contemporary works, including performing as a soloist in Jessye Norman Sings for the Healing of AIDS held at the famous Riverside Church in New York City and telecast live on PBS, involving performances by Grammy Award winner Jessye Norman, Whoopi Goldberg, Elton John, Maya Angelou, and Toni Morrison. He has sung Handel's Messiah with the Rochester Oratorio Society, the Rochester Chamber Orchestra, and the Corning Philharmonic, and also the Mozart Requiem with the Geneseo Symphony and Chorus in Geneseo, N.Y. and with the Eastman Philharmonia in Eastman Theater in Rochester. His performance signing the Brahms German Requiem with the Virginia Consort in Charlottesville, Va. was highly praised.

Internationally, Derrick Smith performed roles in Porgy & Bess traveling with the Chicago Sinfonietta in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and Russia; repeating the same roles with the Norrkerping Symphony in Sweden; and in the dual roles of Crown and Jake again in Porgy and Bess as a part of the VI Festival De Artes De Itu in Brazil which was televised throughout he country. The following onth he performed again in Rusia in the title role of Eugene Onegin, as well as singing acclaimed performances in Gershwin concerts at televised music festivals in both Moscow and Estonia. Mr. Smith has also performed at the International Institute of Vocal Arts in Italy.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Derrick Smith has trained and performed with the Glimmerglass Opera Young American Artist Program and the Brereton International Music Symposium in England under Thomas Hampson, Horst Gunter, and Brigitte Fassbaender. He has worked with coaches Angela Hawaleshka, Sherrill Milnes, and Thomas Paul, and continues to train under Benton Hess and Wayne Sanders. In addition, Mr. Smith was a semi-finalist of the American Traditions Competition, and a winner of the Outstanding Young Men of America Award. A winner of the New York Vocal Artist Competition and the William Warfield Scholarship, Mr. Smith and Mr. Warfield, both Rochester, N.Y. natives, performed and recorded together, and Mr. Smith always shines performing Mr. Warfield's feature, "Old Man River" from Showboat.

Future plans of Mr. Smith include training and performing in Songfest, held at Pepperdine University in California, running the summer vocal program at the Eastman School of Music's Music Horizons program for gifted teenage musicians, and continuing as a Senior Associate Instructor of Voice at the Eastman School of Music.-----------------
Instructor in the Community Music School at the Eastman School of Music.

Derrick Smith and his wife Merideth are the parents of four children and reside in Rochester, New York.