Allison Smith

Biography

Philadelphia-based volinist Allison Smith finds her greatest inspiration in collaboration with other musicians and bringing music to audiences with limited access to performing arts. Originally from Washington state, Allison has spent the last seven years fostering musical community in Pennsylvania.
Allison received her B.M. in Music Education from Grove City College (’21), where she studied with Rochelle Agnew and was a 2020-2021 winner of their Concerto Competition. Allison then attended Penn State University for her M.M. in Violin Performance (’23), where she was a Graduate Teaching Assistant studying with James Lyon, continuing on to complete a Professional Performance Certificate in 2024. She held leadership positions in the university orchestras, received a Creative Achievement Award, and enjoyed frequent collaborations in chamber music both with fellow students and faculty members.
In the Philadelphia area, Allison is an adjunct violin professor at Cairn University, runs a private music studio, is involved with the freelancing community, and performs with several regional orchestras. Recent highlights of Allison's musical career include performing at Carnegie Hall with Lauren Daigle as concertmaster, kick-starting a piano trio, and participating in Wintergreen Music Festival's LEAD Cooperative program. Besides making music, Allison enjoys baking, running, being outside, and visual art.