Nicholas Michael Smith

Nicholas Michael Smith, OBE, holds a degree in music from Cambridge University and studied conducting and composition privately with Reginald Thompson. He holds both artistic and academic appointments.

As a conductor, Mr. Smith has established a world-class reputation through his work with orchestras including Peking Sinfonietta, Asia Philharmonic Orchestra, City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, Les Percussions Claviers de Lyon, Teatro Lirico di Spoleto, Dunshan Symphonic Wind Band and New Music Players. Over the last 25 years Mr. Smith has conducted numerous concerts of significance to the development of western music in China. In 2016 Mr. Smith directed Peking Sinfonietta and International Festival Chorus in the first-ever recording of Xian Xinghai’s Production Cantata, historically China’s first major choral work. The Production Cantata album also features several of Mr. Smith’s choral arrangements of Chinese folk music. These were praised by Fanfare Magazine as “written with a deft hand and equally lightly performed”.

In addition to his conducting engagements, Mr. Smith is also a productive composer. Two of his China-inspired compositions, Changchun Impressions (recorded by Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Gavin Sutherland) and Tears in my Bowl (recorded by RTé Concert Orchestra, Gavin Sutherland) have been released on the Heritage label and distributed worldwide. Love, Friendship and Longing, a recent composition by Mr. Smith based on Tang dynasty poetry, was premiered in London in 2018. He has also collaborated with writer Hong Ying to compose a narrated symphonic work for children based on her story The Girl from the French Fort. This narrated symphony receives regular performances in China.

Mr. Smith has appeared on numerous of Chinese radio and television programs. In 2011 he was given Phoenix TV's “You Bring Charm to China” award for his efforts to encourage and promote western classical music in China.