Bio

With a passion for all things music, performance and entertainment, Angela seeks to continually develop, create, and share her musical artistry with the world. Having started playing at a young age, Angela Smart has acquired years of experience both as a performer and teacher. In addition to her musical studies, Angela extensive training in classical ballet has given her a unique perspective on violin performance practice and technique which sets her apart from other musicians.

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Angela Smart is a Calgary-based violinist and pianist who has been an active part in the Calgary music and arts community for over a decade. Having obtained both her Master of Music (MMus) and Bachelor of Music (BMus) specializing in violin performance from the University of Calgary, Angela has developed a multifaceted and interdisciplinary approach to pedagogy, performing, and collaboration.

 

During her studies at the University of Calgary, Angela served as concertmaster for the University of Calgary Orchestra and was awarded the second violin position in the U of C faculty String Quartet, all while maintaining an active freelance and teaching career. As a concert soloist, Angela was invited to perform the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in 2019, after successfully competing in the RBC Concerto Competition. In 2022, she made her debut at the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show as a featured performer and has performed alongside many international recording artists such as Michael Bublé, Il Divo, 2Cellos and many more. 

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Prior to devoting her studies exclusively to music, Angela was a highly trained ballerina, which provided her with a unique, highly developed kinesthetic awareness. During her graduate studies, Angela received the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Grant from the Government of Canada for her research in how physical movement converges with and affects violin performance and pedagogy. Movement and its technical and performance practice integration, is a large component of Angela’s unique performance and teaching style and has led to multiple collaborations with local dance troupes and companies.

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As a freelance performer, Angela enjoys performing in a variety of capacities both domestic and abroad. Recently, she founded the Bridgeland Quartet; a Calgary-based, all-female string quartet which performs a broad range of genres and venues with the objective of making classical music more mainstream and accessible to the public. She currently serves as the Concertmaster for the Rocky Mountain Symphony and the Key30Orchestra- a multicultural fusion orchestra which actively commissions and performs works by local artists. Additionally, she has, and continues to perform with numerous local and international ensembles including: the Academia Europea dell’Opera Orchestra (Italy); Symphony of the Kootenays (British Columbia) and many more. Angela has also been a key founding member in several new Calgary-based ensembles including the Stringendo ensemble and Fretless Femmes string ensemble. Outside of her classical endeavors, Angela can often be found performing freestyle Hip-Hop and R&B selection as an electric violinist in a variety of venues ranging from art galleries to cocktail lounges and nightclubs around the city. 

 

When she is not performing, Angela is extremely passionate about teaching and sharing the joy of music with others. She is a certified Royal Conservatory of Music teacher and has been running a full-time private music studio in the Calgary area since 2014. With her unique background in kinesthetic awareness and its relationship to pedagogy and performance, Angela is frequently asked by both private teachers and established music organizations to appear as a guest-lecturer and clinician for various masterclasses both locally and across the country.