Richmond Symphony Orchestra conductor to speak at Longwood Sept. 23

Steven Smith, conductor of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, will speak Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Longwood University’s Wygal Hall on "The Human Connection in Music."

In the forum-style lecture in Molnar Recital Hall, which is free and open to the public, Smith will draw on his extensive career to discuss the benefits of music to contemporary society. Smith has twice conducted the RSO at Longwood and will conduct the symphony in a Nov. 7 campus performance.

Smith, who holds the Lewis T. Booker Music Director Chair, also serves concurrently as music director of the Grammy Award-winning Cleveland Chamber Symphony and recently completed a 14-year tenure as music director of the Santa Fe Symphony & Chorus. Previously he was assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra and taught at Oberlin Conservatory.

Smith conducted the Virginia Opera’s performances of Mozart’s "The Marriage of Figaro" in 2013, has guest-conducted orchestras throughout the United States and performed with ensembles in Hong Kong, New Zealand and Mexico. He also is an ASCAP award-winning composer.

The lecture is hosted by Longwood’s Music Department and underwritten by the Office of the President. For more information, call 434-395-2504.