Steven Smith (viola, violin, saxophone, clarinet, beginning brass) has been part of the music scene in
Olathe for many years, having served as music director of the Olathe Community Orchestra since 1985.
An experienced classroom teacher, Steven taught orchestra and music theory at Paseo Academy, Kansas
City’s high school for the performing arts, from 1987 to 2011. Steven holds a bachelor’s degree in music
education from Washburn University, and a master’s in conducting from Northwestern University.

Steven's string students regularly earn top ratings at music festivals, and many of them have earned
chairs in honor orchestras at both the district and state levels. Accomplished on woodwinds as well as
strings, Steven can frequently be seen performing throughout greater Kansas City in a variety of pop and
classical groups. Steven’s goal in teaching is to help students discover and develop the innate talent that
everyone has for making music.

Steven teaches at his home studio in west Olathe.

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