Curtis Ryan Smith, Ph.D. is a concert pianist by training. He received his first lessons from concert pianist Louise Barfield. His teachers have included James Tocco, Edmund Battersby, and Eugene and Elisabeth Pridonoff. He has also received additional training from Harvey Wedeen, Norman Krieger, and Michael Coonrod.
Smith is an enthusiastic teacher, a frequent adjudicator for competitions, and an avid thinker and writer on music. He is also an organist, having studied the organ privately with Marilyn Keiser, Ph.D. At Hollins he teaches private lessons with Hollins’ own Holtkamp organ in duPont Chapel.
Areas of Expertise
- Piano performance
- Organ performance
Courses Taught
- Private study
- Organ
Accomplishments
- Performs in piano duo Les Quatre Mains with Woori Kim Smith, Ph.D.
- Organist and director of music at Christ Episcopal Church in Roanoke
- Associateship certificate from the American Guild of Organists
Research Interests
- The music of Franz Schubert, Benjamin Britten, William Grant Still, and Curtis Curtis-Smith
Education
- D.M.A., piano performance, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati
- M.M., piano performance, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University
- B.M., piano performance, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati
Publications & Articles
- “From One Pianist to Another: Learn the Organ,” American Music Teacher Magazine (MNTA)