Robert Smith
Robert Smith is Organ Scholar at Somerville College, Oxford, where he regularly accompanies and occasionally directs the college choir for their regular services and concerts. He began musical life aged 5 on the piano, and moving to the organ aged 13 at the Birmingham Conservatoire under the tutelage of Henry Fairs, where he remained for 5 years.
Now at Oxford, Robert receives lessons from William Whitehead and was recently awarded an ARCO diploma, also winning the Sowerbutts Prize and Durrant Prize. He has had the pleasure of participating in numerous choir concerts and tours, notably at Blackburn Cathedral, Lancaster Priory, Birmingham Cathedral, Ampleforth Abbey and three times at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Robert regularly performs recitals as well as participating in masterclasses led by David Goode, Guy Bovet and Stephen Farr. He has twice been a finalist in the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition.
Future plans will see Robert feature on a BBC broadcast and a choir tour to America. In August 2014 he will undertake an extensive recital tour of Germany with concerts in Berlin, Brandenburg and Weimar. Robert also pursues piano studies with Margaret Newman, achieving a DipABRSM aged 16, winning numerous prizes in music competitions, both for his solo playing and as part of a piano trio.