Patrick Smith, Semifinalist 2023 • Grammy National Music Education Award, Cooperative Arts High School • New Haven, Connecticut • Quarterfinalist: 2024, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
Recognitions from School, Community and Industry
• 2023 Nominated for Stephen Sondheim High School Musical Award 2023 Season – Best HS Pit Orchestra, Connecticut & Massachusetts
• Ellington Fellowship Award – The Ellington Medal
Yale University, Professor Willie Ruff, Founder & Director
Home Grown Stars Concert ~ Normally awarded to legendary Jazz Artists, on this special occasion Professor Willie Ruff recognized me and my colleague from another art school in New Haven. Together we received the only two Ellington Medals ever given to educators of high school music in the Foundations 40+ year history.
• 2021 Arts Council of New Haven, Annual Arts Award for Community Service – Art41 – “Baby I’m A Star”
• Mary Hunter Wolf 2019 Arts Excellence and Achievement Award – 2019
• Grammy Signature Schools Community Award – 2017
• New Haven Community Foundation, 2021 – I was invited to present our Art Works in Video from Coop Music during their Annual Fundraising meeting. I presented Two of our Music Videos and spoke in support of Music in Our Schools, and the necessity of direct community involvement.
• Numerous Letters of Appreciation from N.H.P.S. past Superintendents 1998-2020
• New Haven Symphony Orchestra – Teacher of the Year – 2000
School Music Advocacy and Teaching
• Recording Academy – New York Chapter, invited me to join, initiate, plan, and work on special projects. Logan Delgado, NY chapter contact – 2023 – …
•. Orchestra New England – Board Member, Director of Educational Initiatives. Hosting clinics, donating instruments to needy programs in the New Haven area.
• VH1/Save the Music Foundation 2016 PBS National Broadcast “American Graduation Day” Guest Speaker – Music Advocacy in Schools- duration: 5m:30s LINK TO SEGMENT:
• Connecticut Western Regional Middle School Festival – Orchestra Guest Conductor, 2000
• Percussive Arts Society, Connecticut Chapter – Past President, 1990’s. Dozens of clinics at schools and festivals around Connecticut – 1985 – present
• Music and Art Center for the Handicapped (M.A.C.H.) – 1993 – 98. Instructor and program designer.
• Neighborhood Music School, New Haven – Community Outreach, Private inst., Dept. Chair 1980’s – 2005
• Adjunct Instructor in Percussion, Western Connecticut State University – 2003 – 2012
• Thelonious Monk Foundation, New Haven, Coop Band is the official High School Laboratory Band. Close relationships and former students in the Monk family and getting to know TS Monk, III personally, have been a blessing to me and my program. Promoting Jazz Education with TS Monk in many school performances in the New Haven area 2005 – present. “Jazz is America!” ~ T.S. Monk, III
Personal Performance Resume
• Hong Kong Philharmonic – Principal Percussion/Tympani 1981 – 82
• Orchestra New England – Principal Percussion/Tympani & Soloist – 1985 – present
• Shubert Theater, New Haven, CT – Dozens of Broadway Touring Shows – 1983 – 2016
• New Haven Symphony Orchestra – Percussionist/Tympanist 1983 –
• Harford Symphony Orchestra = Percussion sideman 2012 –
• The New Sousa Band, Keith Brion, conductor – Snare Drummer & Xylophone Soloist – 1990’s, Multiple Tours
• Freelance Xylophone, Tympani & Percussion Soloist with CT, NY, and PA based orchestras and town bands.
Non-Music Credentials benefiting the Community and State
• Connecticut Center for Nonviolence, Hartford, CT – Certified Level One Trainer in Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation. Extensive work with current and former gang members, as well as formerly incarcerated individuals and the homeless in New Haven and Hartford.
• Fathers in Education, New Haven, CT – Advocate, Activist, Board Member. Working with Formerly Incarcerated Fathers from the community, helping them to re-enter society, secure employment at a living wage, access housing opportunities, and re-establish contacts between fathers and their school aged children. This work significantly impacts positive student school performance.
• Dillman Karate International – Master Level Instructor
• Pickleball Qigong – Qigong, the heart of taiqi integrated into movement practice for Pickleball enthusiasts. Helps prevent injuries and supports quicker healing when injuries occur. Creator and Master Instructor