STEVE SMITH GUITARIST
UK born and based, I began playing electric guitar as a 14 year old in Liverpool. Deciding to pursue a musical career – against the best advice of my school careers advisor! I studied first at Salford technical College swiftly achieving Grade 8 Classical Guitar, 'O' level and 'A' level music in addition to piano grade 6 with the ABRSM in my 2 years there.
I successfully auditioned for the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and continued to develop my taste for all things musical - with a particular fondness for contemporary music performance. Along the way I taught himself mandolin, banjo and quickly became immersed in college projects in opera, chamber music, composition workshops and jazz bands. At the time there was a scarcity of guitar players equipped with necessary sight reading and chamber music skills required to work at the levels of musicianship required.
These abilities and my already considerable experience gained during my time at the RNCM led to being recommended for several professional orchestral engagements and sessions. These included the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra the Halle Orchestra and visiting national companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company in The Tale of Nicholas Nickleby and The Royal Opera House.
Possibly the most significant event during these early years was an invitation to work with the Northern Sinfonia who were to undertake a tour with the composer Micheal Tippett who was to conduct his own 'Songs for Dov'. At the time the complexity of the electric guitar writing in this work had defeated the best efforts of currently available players and unbeknownst to myself I found myself thrust into the amazing world of MT's music and the wider musical world and ever broadening opportunities. At the time, Michael Tippett spoke glowingly of my playing and understanding of what he was aiming for in his guitar writing. It seemed like a vindication of all my commitment contemporary music performance and led to a long and enjoyable association with the composer and his guitar music. I am probably the only guitar player to have performed all MT’s guitar related works.
In the intervening years regular gigs with London Sinfonietta, LSO, LPO, The Nash Ensemble, The BBC Symphony Orchestra help to establish me as a major player. Many premiered new works and corroborations with composers.
I have lived and worked in Finland and the USA holding teaching positions at The Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and in Washington DC, at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. In 2006 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, my specially commissioned score was performed live for a restored screening of the 1928 silent film 'UNDERGROUND'. During my time in Finland I performed with the Finnish orchestra Avanti! on many occasions.
SInce returning to the UK in 2008 I resumed my performing career guesting with the major orchestras of the UK including London Sinfonietta, The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra. West End productions of The Bodyguard, Jersey Boys, Chicago and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and National Theatre of Great Britain productions of London Road followed. Tours, appearances and recordings have included artists Marc Almond and The Stranglers in recent times together with tours of Mike Oldfield's music with Tubular Bells Live!
