Check Out Kristine Smith’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristine Smith.

Hi Kristine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started singing when I was a little girl at age 6 with my twin sister Victoria. We absolutely loved singing, and we grew up singing gospel music in the church. At an early age, Victoria and I got the opportunity to travel with our church band internationally. My journey started in the church and eventually lead me to the operatic stage.

I knew that I wanted to study music in college but I had never studied classical music, and coming from a church background I did not have any sight-reading skills. My undergraduate studies pushed me in the direction of studying classical music. I absolutely hated my first two years of studying.

I felt like I was learning a new musical language, and I had to overcome the insecurity of not being able to read music. It was a huge challenge to teach myself how to analyze music and study music theory as well as learn a foreign language to perform in the operas. I considered my first two years of undergraduate studies a sort of Boot Camp for music theory and diction.

Once I had a technical grasp on how to perform an opera I did my first summer program. This was the first time I ever sang with a full orchestra. I remember it like it was yesterday, and it was the first moment I really knew that I wanted to have a career as an opera diva (a good diva that is).

I started studying and analyzing roles in operas that were commonly performed in the United States and in Europe. When I returned from the summer program, I told my voice teacher at the time that I wanted to get my masters from a school that would challenge me and give me experience on the stage.

I started the search for a Master’s program and ended up attending the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. My masters taught me how to consistently perform at a professional level. I got opportunities to sing a lead role in the opera, and also to have professional work singing as a soprano soloist In Beethoven’s nine.

When I finished my master’s, I came back to Nashville Tennessee to teach at my undergraduate alma mater Middle Tennessee State University. I also took on a position as an adjunct professor at Nashville State community college. When Covid hit I was forced to evaluate my career path.

I am currently performing local gigs with organizations like Opera On Tap Nashville and singing with the Nashville Symphony Chorus. I also have my own voice studio, Kristine Smith Studio, and I am teaching students all over the country via zoom.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of my obstacles and challenges were learning how to read music and cultivating a knowledge of a foreign language. In Opera, the three most common languages are Italian, German, and French. When you are portraying a character in an opera it is important that you understand every word that you are singing so that you can truly tell the story with sincerity.

You not only need to know your role, but you also need to know your characters/colleagues’ roles. It is no small feat to learn an entire 2 to 3-hour opera in a foreign language, and have every measure memorized! Not including any staging or costume changes or dance/movement you may have.

Another obstacle or challenge that I faced and still face is learning the business of music. From 1099 taxes to agents, to competitions, to networking, to marketing awareness, and to website building. There is so much that goes into the business of music. Not including all the prep work, I do once the gig is booked.

It takes a true entrepreneurial spirit to embark on some of these necessary things.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I connect with my audience through song allowing them to experience a variety of emotions. I specialize in classical repertoire and am known for my bel canto singing.

I am teaching at Kristine Smith Studios, and gigging monthly.

One thing that sets me apart is I can sing in multiple styles/genres. From lower broad in Nashville to Broadway musical theatre, from rhythm and blues to pop/jazz I can sing it!

I love teaching all ages and accept students at all levels. I believe that if you build a solid technical foundation you should be able to sing healthily in any style.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Due to Covid-19, I was able to slow down and connect with singers and artists from all over the world.

I have learned more about marketing awareness and networking. It truly is all about who you know.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: kristinesmith.mymusicstaff.com
• Instagram: @anna_kristinesmith
• Facebook: Kristine Smith Soprano

Image Credits
Headshot photographed by Jess Tomlins