Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

April 22, 1918 in Winnfield, LA

Death

:

August 18, 2015 in Pittsfield, MA

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

William Jay Smith was an American poet, translator, and classical music artist who was born on April 22, 1918, in Winnfield, Louisiana. He was the son of William Jay Smith Sr. and Mary Louise (née Eaton) Smith. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was a pianist and music teacher. Smith grew up in the United States and Europe, where he was exposed to classical music from an early age. Smith began his musical training at the age of six, studying piano with his mother. He later studied composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris and with Roger Sessions at Princeton University. He also studied conducting with Serge Koussevitzky at the Tanglewood Music Center. Smith's career as a classical music artist began in the 1940s, when he became a conductor for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He also worked as a music critic for The New York Times and The New Yorker. In 1952, he became the music editor of The Paris Review, a literary magazine that published works by some of the most prominent writers of the time. Smith's work as a conductor and music critic brought him into contact with some of the most famous classical musicians of the 20th century. He conducted the premieres of works by composers such as Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, and Leonard Bernstein. He also worked closely with Igor Stravinsky, who dedicated his Symphony in Three Movements to Smith. In addition to his work as a conductor and music critic, Smith was also a prolific composer. He wrote music for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. His compositions were performed by some of the most prestigious orchestras in the world, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Smith's career as a composer was recognized with numerous awards and honors. He was awarded the Prix de Rome in 1947, the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1972, and the Academy of American Poets Fellowship in 1985. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Smith's contributions to classical music and poetry were celebrated throughout his life. He was invited to read his poetry at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1993. He was also awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush in 2002. Smith died on August 18, 2015, at the age of 97. His legacy as a classical music artist and poet continues to inspire and influence generations of musicians and writers.

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