Album Notes

TRACY ANNE SMITH is garnering increasing praise for her expressive performances, rich tonal palette and musical control. Cuban guitarist and conductor Leo Brouwer praised her “polyphonic hands” and “tremendous sound” while American virtuoso Benjamin Verdery commended her “ability to express the emotion of a work to its core.” As a visiting artist at festivals such as the Alexandria Guitar Festival and the 7th International Festival of Guitar in Culiacán, Mexico, and as Emerging-Artist-in–Residence at the Strathmore Performing Arts Center, she is in demand for solo recitals and masterclasses and as a juror for competitions. A prize-winner in international competitions, most recently the NGW Classical Guitar Competition in New Milford, CT, her playing has brought her to the concert platform in Germany, England, France, Italy, Spain, the USA, Mexico and her native Canada. In addition to her solo endeavors, she performs with Canadian virtuoso Rob MacDonald as ChromaDuo, an ensemble with a deep focus on the development, creation and performance of new music by emerging and established composers. She also appeared as a featured soloist in Verdery’s piece Ellis Island at Manhattan’s 92nd Street Y, and on electric guitar at Peabody Conservatory with the CAGE Avant-Garde Ensemble. She is currently completing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Peabody Conservatory under the guidance of Manuel Barrueco and Julian Gray. She earned her Master’s Degree at Yale University School of Music with Ben Verdery, and her Undergraduate Degree at University of Toronto, where she studied with Jeffrey McFadden and Norbert Kraft. She has been invited to perform in over fifty Masterclasses with the most prominent guitarists in the world, including Oscar Ghiglia, Manuel Barrueco, Lorenzo Micheli, Matteo Mela, LAGQ, David Russell, Eduardo Fernandez, Fabio Zanon, Martha Masters, Zoran Dukic, Roland Dyens, Leo Brouwer et al.