Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith, a bass-baritone, was born and raised in Washington, DC. He graduated from George Mason University (GMU) in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance, studying under Professor Samuel L. E. Bonds. During his time at George Mason University, he performed the roles of Balthazar in Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, Bartolo in W. A. Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Sarastro in W. A. Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, and Betto in Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. After completing his Bachelor’s at George Mason, he attended The Catholic University of America (CUA), where he earned his Master of Music Degree in 2018. While at CUA, he was heard as Blitch in Carlisle Floyd’s Susanna, Sparafucile in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Gianni Schicchi in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, and Raimondo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Andrew is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Michigan, studying with Mr. Daniel Washington. While at the University of Michigan, he has taken on the role of Don Giovanni in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Thalasso in David Hanlon’s The Pigeon Keeper, Peter in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel.

As he prepares for his dissertation recitals, his research explores community and culture in vocal music, specifically examining the influences of African American artists, sacred texts, and the significance of ensemble singing within the vocal music genre. Using performance as the primary research method, Andrew will be analyzing community and culture through recitals, productions, original arrangements, original compositions, and recording projects designed to enrich both the performers' and the audience's sensorium.

Over the years, Andrew has also performed as the bass soloist for Handel’s Messiah in the DC area. More recently, he served as the bass soloist for Schubert’s Stabat Mater (2023) and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (2024) with Colby College. He has also portrayed Elijah in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Georgetown Chorale (2023) and with Hillsdale College (2024).

Andrew continues to share his musical talents through various compositions and arrangements for the community and his gospel group, The Genesis Music Ministry. Some of their original music is available on all digital streaming platforms. He also serves as an assistant conductor of the Men of Color Chorale in Washington, DC, and has founded an arts organization called ASMITHMUSIC LLC.

Andrew founded ASMITHMUSIC LLC in 2020, during the pandemic, to make music accessible to the community while maintaining physical distance. At that time, ASMITHMUSIC focused on providing music tutoring and consulting services. Since then, it has broadened its mission to ensure music is available to everyone, offering tutoring, consulting, performances, and artist management.

The organization aims to strengthen the community’s connection to the arts and cultivate a lasting appreciation for all types of music through arts education, partnerships with other organizations, and the creation of innovative performances and productions. This goal is accomplished through the Sam Bonds Chorale, one of ASMITHMUSIC’s primary performing ensembles, led by Andrew as the conductor and Artistic Director.

The Sam Bonds Chorale consists of musicians from the DMV area who cherish Sacred and Inspirational choral music and wish to uphold its legacy as exemplified by Samuel L. E. Bonds. The chorale's mission is to educate the community about the necessity and importance of Sacred and Inspirational Music. They have performed throughout the area at various churches and recently participated in the National Cathedral's second annual Black History Month program (2025) and the Atlas Theatre Intersections Festival (2024).

Andrew is grateful to God for the gift of music and will keep sharing this gift with everyone he encounters.