Timothy Smith has held the position of 2nd Trombone with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra since 2009, and also served as Acting Bass Trombone for three seasons spanning 2016-2019. Prior to joining the BPO, Tim performed with the San Diego Symphony and Opera, and also the Jacksonville Symphony. Mr. Smith has also appeared with the Chicago Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Boston Pops, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Grant Park Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony and Opera, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, Chicago’s Music of the Baroque, and many ensembles throughout greater Chicago.
Internationally, Mr. Smith has performed in Germany, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic with orchestras and chamber ensembles alike. In the chamber music realm, Tim was a founding member of the Second City Brass Quintet, as well as the CT3 Trombone Quartet, winners of the 2005 ITA International Trombone Quartet Competition. Additionally, he has performed with the Bach Week of Evanston festival, International Contemporary Ensemble, Great Lakes Trombone Choir, and Buffalo Chamber Players.
As a pedagogue, Mr. Smith maintains a private trombone studio in Buffalo, and serves as adjunct faculty at the Eastman School of Music, teaching Low Brass Orchestral Repertory. Currently, Mr. Smith is also serving as Adjunct Lecturer of Trombone at Ithaca College during the Spring 2021 and 2021-2022 academic years. Timothy has also served on the music faculty of San Diego State University and the British School of Chicago, and is faculty at the annual Washington Brass Institute Low Brass Boot Camp. Tim is an active guest teacher, clinician and recitalist, having presented at a multitude of universities and conferences around the country, including the New World Symphony, New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Conference, Texas State Trombone Day, and Eastern Trombone Workshop. Additionally, Tim is a frequent guest clinician and soloist with public school programs around Western New York. As a Teaching Artist through the BPO, Tim’s program The Science of Sound is in high demand in area schools, and has been presented to thousands of students since its inception.
Timothy actively advocates for new music featuring the trombone, and was instrumental in commissioning Eric Ewazen’s “Triple Concerto for Trombones and Orchestra”, which was premiered in November 2012 by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, under the directorship of JoAnn Falletta, and subsequently recorded and released on the Beau Fleuve record label. Mr. Smith has led several consortiums for the commissioning of new works: Rob Deemer’s “Iron, Steel, Rust” for soloist on Alto, Tenor, and Bass Trombones with trombone ensemble accompaniment, and Philip Wharton’s “Sonata for Alto Trombone and Piano”. Most recently, Tim led a consortium of 11 junior high bands to commission Viet Cuong to write a new work for trombone and young band, entitled “Howls and Hymns”. Furthermore, Timothy created and coordinated the Richard Myers Memorial Trombone Trio Composition Contest, designed to both honor the late Richard “Dick” Myers and provide a wealth of new, original music for trombone trio.
Timothy studied with Dr. Harold Reynolds at Ithaca College, and following graduation in 2003, went on to complete his Master’s studies with Michael Mulcahy and Charlie Vernon at Northwestern University. Some of Mr. Smith’s additional teachers include Nitzan Haroz, Mark Fisher, Royce Landon, and Randy Hawes. Tim can be heard on recordings with the Buffalo Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, Music of the Baroque, Northwestern University’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and for Fisher-Price. Mr. Smith is an S.E. Shires Company Artist.
Tim Smith - trombonist 