Bio

Dr. Brice Smith commands the stage as a flutist, educator, and arts advocate whose work ignites audiences and expands the expressive horizons of the classical tradition. Blending virtuosic fire with uncompromising artistry, Smith transforms every performance and project into an invitation to listen deeper, breathe fuller, and feel more alive.

Known for his vibrant sound and commitment to expanding the flute repertoire, Smith has held the Principal Flute chair of the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra and serves as a substitute flutist for the Seattle, Milwaukee, Colorado, and Tulsa symphonies. He has also performed with the New World Symphony, 21st Century Consort, ÆPEX Contemporary Ensemble, and National Repertory Orchestra.

A sought-after soloist, Smith has appeared with the Longmont Symphony (Trail of Tears by Michael Daugherty), Arkansas Philharmonic (Concerto for Flute and Strings by Malcolm Arnold), Camerata Symphony (Concerto for Flute and Strings by Malcolm Arnold), Siena Heights University Concert Band (Theme and Variations by Anne McGinty), ÆPEX Contemporary Ensemble (Pastoral by Julia Perry), the University of Colorado Boulder Symphony Orchestra (Concerto in D Major, K. 314 by W.A. Mozart), the University of Michigan Camerata Symphony Orchestra (Concerto for Flute and Strings by Malcolm Arnold), and the 21st Century Consort. He has graced stages such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Texas Music Educators Association Convention.

Smith’s National Flute Association appearances include being a guest soloist for the 50th Anniversary Convention Celebration, gala performer for the 51st and 52nd conventions, and premieres of new works by Carlos Simon, Allison Loggins-Hull, and Marcin Łukaszewski, as well as premieres for the NFA Summer Series and the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music’s Gig Thru COVID.

He is the creator of celestialflute Academy, a space where music meets grace, artistry, and wellness. Through personalized training, he guides flutists in blending technical mastery with breathwork, body awareness, and creative expression—helping them perform with both precision and soul. His Inclusive Flutist Workshop Series includes the 2023 presentation Pedagogy for Flutists with Full Lips, which has been praised for advancing inclusive approaches to flute education. Smith is also a founding member of the Boulder Altitude Directive (BAD Ensemble), a new music ensemble conducted by composer Dr. Carter Pann.

His artistry extends to recording and publishing, with releases through Alry Publications LLC and the American Composers Alliance, and his forthcoming book Treasures for the Flute – A Fantasy of Flute Tone Exercises (2026). His writings have appeared in The Flute View and in Peterson/Bandar’s Finding Your Social Media Voice.

Smith has a rich and wide-ranging set of experiences in teaching, recruitment, scholarly research, and publication. He has served as Adjunct Professor of Flute at Adams State University, Associate Artistic Director for Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music Flute Academy, and presented masterclasses and lessons for institutions including his alma mater, the University of Arkansas, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. During his D.M.A., he was Artistic and Development Assistant for the Crested Butte Music Festival and Graduate Assistant and Student Engagement Specialist for the Entrepreneurship Center for Music at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Administratively, Smith has served as Repertoire Specialist for Rachel Barton Pine’s Music by Black Composers Organization, an executive board member for multiple NFA committees, executive board member for the Texas Flute Society, Artistic Representative for Rollopollolo Press, Assistant Artistic Administrative Director for the Crested Butte Music Festival, and Music Librarian for the Napa Valley Music Festival.

As a competition adjudicator, he has served on multiple panels including the 2023 NFA Alto Flute Artist Finalist Competition, 2022 TFS Myrna W. Brown Competition, the University of Iowa School of Music, the 2021 NFA Junior Soloist Competition, and multiple San Francisco Flute Society competitions.

Honors include recognition in Marquis Who’s Who in America (2025), the Willis Patterson Diversity Award (2016), and invitations to serve as Artist Faculty at the InterHarmony International Music Festival (2021–). Smith holds a D.M.A. in Flute Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado Boulder, a Performer Diploma from Indiana University, dual master’s degrees in Flute Performance and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan, and a B.M. in Flute Performance, Violin Performance, and German from the University of Arkansas. Additional training includes the Curtis Institute Flute Course & Mentorship Network and the Cleveland Institute of Music Future of Music Faculty Fellowship Program, the inaugural fellowship for leading Black and Brown pedagogues.