Derrick Smith
as Joe

Derrick Smith, baritone

Baritone Derrick Smith has emerged as a rising vocal sensation, singing with distinction in theaters around the world. Mr. Smith sang the role of Joe in Show Boat at its 50th Anniversary performance at the California Musical Theater in Sacramento. He was asked to repeat the same role at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre's summer performances in Chicago, receiving jubilant praise from critics and standing ovations from the audience.

He has triumphed equally performing the dual roles of Porgy and Jake in Porgy and Bess with the Chicago Sinfonietta at Chicago's Symphony Hall, Crown in Porgy and Bess with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and Leporello in Don Giovanni with the Malmo Symfoni Orkester in Sweden. Mr. Smith more recently appeared with Opera Ebony in the debut performance of original opera Harriet Tubman at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, performing the principal role of John Tubman. He was called on to repeat the same role of John Tubman both at the Arturo Schomberg Center in New York City and at the Metro Theater in Syracuse, NY.

A frequent oratorio and concert soloist, Mr. Smith has performed as a soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rochester Oratorio Society, Rochester Chamber Orchestra, Corning Philharmonic, Geneseo Symphony and Chorus, the Long Island Symphony, Virginia Consort, and the Chamber Group of the Toronto Symphony, among others. Internationally, he has performed in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and Russia, Sweden, Brazil, Estonia, and Italy. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Mr. Smith has trained and performed with the Glimmerglass Opera Young American Artist Program and the Brereton International Music Symposium in England. He currently teaches voice at the Community Music School at the Eastman School of Music, and privately, and lives in Rochester with his wife and four children.

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