Hello!

Keoni Smith is a Boston, MA based music educator, professional trumpet player, and researcher. Born and raised Rochester NY, he is a multi-talented musician, receiving training in classical, jazz, and commercial musical styles.

 

Keoni is currently a graduate fellow pursuing an M.M. in Music Education at Longy School of Music of Bard College. He also holds a B.M. in Trumpet Performance from The Crane School of Music, under the guidance of Dr. Brianne Borden and Professor Emeritus Dr. John R. Ellis.

 

Keoni is experienced educator. Currently, he runs a private music studio practice serving students who play trumpet, piano, and tutoring for music theory. Alongside his private studio, Keoni has served as a Winds Coach in Longy's Side-by-Side Orchestra, where he co-planned sectional rehearsals and helped students gain autonomy in music reading and practicing skills. He is also refining his teaching toolbox in his student teaching experiences in Watertown Public Schools, working with band (grades 4-12) and elementary general music classes (grades PK-5). In the past, Keoni tutored for entry-level music theory classes at The Crane School of Music, led the music education sequence Trumpet Techniques class through warm up drills, and served as a mentor and coach in the Crane Trumpet Studio.

 

As a performer, Keoni has most recently appeared in Longy's flagship new music ensemble, Ensemble Uncaged, and in chamber ensembles in the Jazz and Contemporary Music department. Additionally, he has been seen with operatic soprano Kayla Kovacs performing chamber music that spans from the baroque era to the 21st century. At The Crane School of Music, Keoni maintained the role of principal trumpet with the Crane Wind Ensemble and the Crane Symphony Orchestra. He has also played in the student-formed Apollo Brass Quintet and the Frackenpohl Honors Brass Quintet, an audition-based ensemble endowed by the late Dr. Arthur Frackenpohl and family. Outside of his group performances, Keoni has commissioned works as part of Crane's Composer Forums, including works by established band composer Tyler Mazone.