Kelsey Smith

Dr. Kelsey Smith is Assistant Professor of Music at Austin Peay State University, where she teaches applied cello, chamber music, and string methods. Prior to her appointment at APSU, she was the Instructor of Cello at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Smith has performed as part of the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Fort Collins and Boulder Symphonies, Colorado Dance Theater Orchestra, and Greeley, McKinney, and Abilene Philharmonics. She has performed as a concerto soloist with the LOU Symphony Orchestra and is an active chamber musician. Inspired by the increasing range of influences and styles within contemporary classical music, Dr. Smith’s research and creative work focuses on the intersection of classical music and other idioms, particularly jazz. Her dissertation, Swimming in the Third Stream: A Performance Guide for David Baker’s Singers of Songs/Weavers of Dreams for Cello and Percussion outlines jazz influence and performance practices throughout Baker’s work. Dr. Smith holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado, the University of North Texas, and Luther College.