Trombone
Trombonist Timothy Smith has been a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra since 2009, appointed as 2nd Trombone and also spending 3 seasons as Acting Bass Trombone (2016-2019). Mr. Smith frequently appears with top ensembles across the country, having included the Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Boston Pops, and many others, on alto, tenor, bass, and contrabass trombones. Timothy is also a member of the Sun Valley Music Festival in Sun Valley, ID.
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, Buffalo Chamber Players, and the trombone trio Tres Bone.
As a pedagogue, Mr. Smith maintains a private trombone studio in Buffalo, and serves on the faculty at the Eastman School of Music, teaching Low Brass Orchestral Repertory. During the 2021-2022 academic semesters, Mr. Smith is also serving as Interim Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Ithaca College. Tim is an active guest teacher, clinician and recitalist, having presented at a multitude of universities, conferences, and camps around the country, including the New World Symphony, New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Conference, the Eastern Trombone Workshop, and the Washington Brass Institute Low Brass Boot Camp. Additionally, Tim is a frequent guest clinician and soloist with public school programs around Western New York. Working as an ambassador of the Buffalo Philharmonic through their Education Department, Tim has presented to thousands of Western New York school children, notably his Science of Sound program, which uses the trombone family to correlate science and music.
Mr. Smith is an active advocate for new music commissions, and played a central role in the BPO’s commissioning, performance, and recording of Eric Ewazen’s “Triple Concerto for Trombones and Orchestra”. Additionally, he has led several consortiums to commission new works for alto, tenor, and bass trombone – most recently being Viet Cuong’s Howls & Hymns, written expressly for middle school band with trombone soloist. 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 holds a Bachelors of Music degree from Ithaca College, studying with Dr. Hal Reynolds, and a Masters of Music degree from Northwestern University, where he studied primarily with Michael Mulcahy. Some of Mr. Smiths additional teachers are Mark Brumbach, Mark Fisher, Charlie Vernon, Randy Hawes, Nitzan Haroz, Royce Landon, and many of the countries leading players. Mr. Smith is an Eastman/Shires Company Artist.
Residing in the historic Elmwood Village neighborhood of Buffalo, Mr. Smith is married with two energetic young boys, living in an 1848 farmhouse enticing them with endless projects. In addition to a full career in music, Tim and his wife run a property renovation and rental business. When not preparing for professional performances, Tim enjoys listening to Bossa Nova, the American Songbook, and 1980s pop.