About Dr. Smith

Nicholas Smith came to Wichita, Kansas in 1975 assuming the dual positions of Professor of Horn at Wichita State University and Principal Horn of the Wichita Symphony. He has been a member of WSU's Wichita Brass Quintet and Lieurance Woodwind Quintet producing that ensemble's three CD's for the Summit Recording Label. He has held the Principal Horn positions in the Oklahoma City Symphony, the Madison (WI) Symphony and the forty piece American Sinfonietta chamber orchestra. He has also performed with the Kansas City Symphony and as Assistant Principal Horn with the Rochester Philharmonic. Dr. Smith has worked with summer festivals such as the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, the Brevard Music Center (NC), the Bay View (MI) Music Festival and the Bellingham (WA) Music Festival. He has been a frequent soloist and lecturer at regional and international conferences of the International Horn Society and hosted three regional conferences for the society in 1991, 1996, and 2006. He has published several articles in various journals including one for the Horn Call Journal which was the International Horn Society's juried publication. Dr. Smith's students occupy positions in many orchestras and military service bands throughout the United States, Europe, and the Orient. In recognition of his teaching accomplishments, Wichita State University named Dr. Smith to its Academy of Effective Teaching in May of 2004. In the Spring of 2016 the Wichita Symphony presented him the Severt Award to recognize his work in mentoring the many horn students who have passed through the orchestra on their way to successful playing careers after their time at Wichita State and with the Symphony. Additional academic appointments include teaching at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He also served Wichita State University in several administrative positions: as Graduate Coordinator, Associate Chair, and Acting Chair for the School of Music and, for five years, as Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts. A native Kansan, he earned degrees at Pittsburg State University (BM) and the Eastman School of Music (MM, DMA, and Performers Certificate). Principal teachers include Leo Ashcraft, James Funkhouser, Wayne Harrell, Verne Reynolds, Philip Farkas, and Roland Berger.

After a career playing Principal Horn for forty-five years and a university teaching career lasting forty-four years. "Doc" Smith, as he is called by his students, retired from Wichita State University and the Wichita Symphony in June of 2016.

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