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Biography

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Korean-American pianist Dr. Woori Kim Smith is an internationally active performer, pedagogue, and scholar whose career encompasses solo performance, chamber music, teaching, and artistic leadership. Following her graduation summa cum laude from Seoul National University, she earned both the Master of Music degree and the prestigious Performer's Diploma from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. She simultaneusly completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Artist Diploma at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied with distinguished pianist James Tocco and served as his teaching assistant.

Dr. Kim Smith has appeared at numerous international music festivals and concert series, including Bargemusic and the Music & Now Series in New York, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival in Michigan, and the Kirishima International Music Festival in Japan. Her artistic development has been further enriched through participation in masterclasses and advanced study programs in Prague, Scotland, and Salzburg.

As a recitalist, she has performed extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, presenting both standard and specialized repertoire. Her distinguished appearances include debut solo recitals at Steinway Hall in New York City and Dolby Hall in San Francisco. In recognition of the centennial of Claude Debussy's death, Dr. Kim Smith presented a landmark series of recitals at Carnegie Hall in 2018 featuring the complete Préludes, Études, and Images. This project culminated in her critically acclaimed recording of Debussy's complete Préludes on the Con Brio Recordings label, reflecting her ongoing commitment to French piano literature and twentieth-century repertoire.

An accomplished chamber musician, Dr. Kim Smith performs regularly with her husband, pianist Dr. Curtis Ryan Smith, as the piano duo Les Quatre Mains. Their collaborative performances encompass a broad spectrum of the four-hand and two-piano repertoire. 

Dr. Kim Smith is Professor of Piano at Liberty University's School of Music, where she teaches applied piano, mentors undergraduate and graduate students, and contributes to the artistic and academic mission of the institution. Her students have been accepted into distinguished graduate programs across the United States and have established successful careers as performers, educators, collaborative artists, and church musicians.

As a concerto soloist, Dr. Kim Smith has performed major works from the Classical, Romantic, and twentieth-century traditions, including concertos by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Shostakovich. Notable engagements include performances of Beethoven's Piano Concertos Nos. 4 and 5 ("Emperor"), as well as Beethoven's Choral Fantasy with the Liberty Symphony Orchestra, Liberty Concert Choirs, and the Liberty University Chorus in 2023.

In demand as a clinician, guest artist, and adjudicator, Dr. Kim Smith has presented masterclasses and performances at institutions including University of Michigan, Western Kentucky University, Metropolitan State University, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, Randolph College, Hollins University, Northwestern College, and University of South Dakota. She is frequently invited to serve as an adjudicator for regional, state, and national piano competitions.

Through her combined commitment to artistic excellence, scholarly engagement, and pedagogical mentorship, Dr. Kim Smith continues to cultivate the next generation of musicians while maintaining an active national and international performance career.

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